Mount Gambier’s prestigious Generations in Jazz is returning after a two-year hiatus in an improvised hybrid format – with the event heading online to ensure it proceeds.
GIJ board chair Peter Roberts said the board met last week to make the challenging decision to adapt the traditional structure for 2022 to give certainty to schools that an event would be delivered.
He reassured it was not a permanent change, with plans to return to the traditional format in 2023 if COVID rules allowed.
“GIJ Improvised is taking an innovative approach to GIJ, ensuring thousands of students across Australia have the opportunity to perform and record the 2022 GIJ Set Pieces and have some of the world’s best jazz educators and performers adjudicate their work,” Mr Roberts said.
“Planning with ever-changing pandemic influences, especially with the Omicron variant, have had a major influence on our decision making.”
Mr Roberts said the nationally recognised school music education event, which was to be held in Mount Gambier from May 6-8, has been deferred to June 15-17 2022 to accommodate the new-look hybrid model.
“The board felt it imperative to give certainty to the schools, offering an extended time frame to prepare while compensating for the delayed start to school terms and the restrictions on commencement of rehearsals,” Mr Roberts said.
“We are extremely excited to share this new look digital, virtual and live platform which will open the door to potentially sharing our event with a new global audience, bringing invaluable exposure to our event and indeed the region, whilst importantly supporting and enhancing the jazz music curriculum across the nation.”
Mr Roberts said GIJ Improvised will host the traditional aspects of the weekend’s activities, including the City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards, ANZ Vocal Ensemble Awards and the GIJ Small Jazz Combo Awards.
Mr Roberts said he was delighted to announce that this new format has made it possible for the international composers of the Division 1 and Division 2 Set Pieces, Bob Mintzer and John Clayton respectively, to be available to adjudicate the bands in those Divisions – a significant coup for the students, music directors and GIJ.
The longstanding James Morrison Jazz Scholarship and the GIJ Vocal Scholarship format will remain with finalists selected and travelling to Mount Gambier for their adjudication performances.
The GIJ Gala concert, traditionally held on the Saturday night of the May event, will be held on Thursday, June 16 at Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre with public tickets to be released based on COVID guidelines at the time.
The concert will include James Morrison among other special guest artists due to be announced over the coming weeks.
Schools will have access to the live streamed concert which will include the announcement of placegetters from the awards and scholarships.
Mr Roberts highlighted whilst this hybrid event was not the board’s favoured structure, preferring the traditional ‘big top’ celebration, there was agreement the event could not be cancelled for a third consecutive year.
He said 80 schools had already registered for 2022, which includes about 3500 participants.
“The most important underlying objective for the board is to maintain the significant role GIJ plays in school music education programs,” Mr Roberts said.
“We want to give schools assurance the event will happen.
“This hybrid format has the potential to give opportunity to may more schools who have not participated in GIJ previously.
“We appreciate the variables will be different for our city and the region in 2022 with participants not travelling and the reduced economic stimulus to our businesses and accommodation providers, but we remain committed to seeing the event return live in a traditional format in future years when the pandemic is behind us.”
More announcements on GIJ Improvised will be made in the coming weeks.
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