Our Big Band is a jazz ensemble comprising brass, saxophones and rhythm sections – specifically, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and a vocalist.
Members audition each year, with about 20 members from Years 9–13. Claire Oliver leads the band, along with teaching saxophone at College.
The band plays at school functions and in public, including the Christchurch Big Band Festival, and enters the Ara JazzQuest Competition. Among the highlights is the Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival, held in Blenheim each August, with bands competing and also performing in local venues, along with enjoying a Masterclass session. Christ’s College regularly receives a Gold award and has also won the overall Festival Winner award. College Band members are often selected for the All-Star Band, recognising the best players.
In addition, several students are selected for a Jazz Combo, where they can play more improvised charts.
Tutor
Claire Oliver
Claire Oliver
Claire Oliver grew up with a passion for music, learning recorder, clarinet, saxophone, organ, electric bass and double bass.
She has been teaching instrumental music since 1993, and working at Christ’s College since 2010, where she is the Director of Big Band, Saxophone Quartet, and Jazz Combo, as well as providing private tutoring on saxophone, clarinet, and bass. In recent years, Claire has also worked with Year 9 music classes.
Claire has played double bass and clarinet in orchestras, and saxophone in symphonic bands and big bands, as well as being involved in musical theatre.
Claire prepares the groups she directs for various high school level music competitions, including the annual Chamber Music Contest, Southern Jam Jazz Festival, CPIT Jazz Quest, and the NZSM High Schools Jazz Festival. The College Big Band and Jazz Combo have repeatedly won silver and gold awards at these events, including – at Southern Jam – accolades such as Best Big Band in 2010, Overall Festival Winner in 2011, and runner-up Big Band in 2015.