And all that jazz! 43rd annual Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival next Friday and Saturday!
The Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival is ready for its 43rd year of student performances, with more than 2,200 students from 41 secondary schools in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island taking the stage at the Bell Performing Arts Centre next weekend. (Photo by Jacob Zinn)
The district is getting ready for its biggest jazz festival ever, with more than 2,200 students set to take the stage at the 43rd annual Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival on Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22.
Surrey Schools continues to host the longest-running educational jazz festival in Canada, with two full days of performances – morning, noon and night – by musical and vocal jazz bands, ensembles and combos on four stages at the Bell Performing Arts Centre and other spaces in Sullivan Heights Secondary.
“We are maxed out in junior and senior big band, in vocal jazz, and we have wait lists for categories like combos, which are becoming more and more popular,” said arts education helping teacher Tricia Liversidge. “What that tells me is that kids are making those connections with music themselves and finding people to jam with, and those combos are growing out of the community that exists in music rooms and music programs.
“It also says a lot about the work the teachers are doing, to be able to grow and redefine and adapt their programs. To have that work come to fruition, it’s pretty great.”
Students from 16 Surrey secondary schools will perform during the two-day event, including groups from Elgin Park, Enver Creek, Fleetwood Park, Frank Hurt, Fraser Heights, Grandview Heights, Guildford Park, Johnston Heights, Lord Tweedsmuir, North Surrey, École Panorama Ridge, Queen Elizabeth, École Salish, Semiahmoo, Sullivan Heights and Tamanawis secondary schools.
Additionally, jazz bands and music classes from neighbouring Lower Mainland communities and parts of Vancouver Island are making the trip to Sullivan Heights, bringing the total number of participating schools to an astounding 41.
While students listen to many genres of music, Liversidge said the jazz festival appeals to students seeking a sense of musical community and provides a chance for students to try things in music that may not fit in other genres, while also instilling a sense of courage to improvise.
“It gives them a lot of opportunity to take creative risks in a supportive environment,” she said. “Improv is a big part of jazz and it gives them the courage to attempt different things, which translates into confidence in their skills.”
New this year, students will have designated jam spaces to play together between performances, furthering the sense of community and experimentation with jazz.
As well, the Proficiency Scales – an ensemble of Surrey Schools current and retired teachers, student alumni and teacher candidates – return to this year’s festival for evening performances.
This year's festival is sponsored by Long & McQuade, Tom Lee Music, Vancouver Backline Services, Global BC, CKNW, the Surrey Now-Leader, the Bell Performing Arts Centre, Lyle Singular, Matterhorn Music, Peninsula Arts Foundation, Tapestry Music, the VSO School of Music and Winner’s Circle Trophies.
The festival takes place at four performance venues at Sullivan Heights Secondary: The Bell Performing Arts Centre theatre, the library, the small gym and the multipurpose room.
The Bell Performing Arts Centre is located at 6250 144 St. For more information, including the Friday and Saturday performance schedules, visit surreyschools.ca/jazzfestival
