Junior Jazz Jam

Come along and support the next generation of jazz musicians!

This unique event, running annually since 2014, brings together primary and intermediate school jazz bands from across Christchurch for a fantastic afternoon of live music.

Free to attend – come along, grab a seat and cheer on these emerging young musicians as they take the stage in the Tautoru / TSB Space, at Tūranga.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to see young players gaining confidence, performing with their bands and sharing their love of jazz with an audience.

A big thank you to Christchurch City Libraries for supporting this event.

Sign up to the Festival newsletter and follow us on social media to keep up with all the Festival action, including free events and ticketed shows. The Christchurch Big Band Jazz Festival is a charitable, community-run festival, and donations from music lovers help us keep the majority of our performances free for everyone to enjoy. If you love live music and would like to help keep the jazz playing, please consider making a donation.

Adjudicator Scott Taitoko

Scott Taitoko is a Senior Academic Staff Member at Ara Music Arts, where he teaches trombone, music theory, aural skills, jazz improvisation, jazz and contemporary ensembles, and Summer School. In addition to his work at Ara, Scott keeps busy as a professional musician playing trombone for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (Associate Principal), Salmonella Dub and Oval Office. He also freelances as a recording artist, musical theatre trombonist and sideman at events around the country. Born in Ōtautahi, Scott studied at the CPIT Jazz School. Before joining the Music Arts team at Ara, Scott worked as a music director and trombonist on cruise ships for four years.