BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
AND THE AURORA CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
AURORA FESTIVAL NEWS
In 2024, the Aurora Festival is pleased to announce the addition of a one day Big Band event directly following the ensemble days.
The day will follow a similar format to the ensemble days, with a stage performance of 30 minutes followed by an adjudicator workshop of 60 minutes.
Entries are invited from bands of 12 or more members, with the following format:
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Rhythm section (drums, bass, piano/keyboard and/or guitar)
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Horn line players from the traditional Big Band lineup (trumpet, trombone, saxophone)
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Vocalist (optional)
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Director (optional)
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Additional percussionists (optional)
Please see the Conditions of Entry Page for full details and the entry form.
As this is the first year of this component in the Festival, there will be a limited number of bands given places. Early registration is encouraged.
A new MEFA partnership between Burnside High School Music Department and Music Works New Zealand is excited to announce the founding of a new music festival for primary, intermediate, high school and community based musical groups. To be hosted this year in The Aurora Centre at Burnside High School, Christchurch, on 31st August and 1st September, the Aurora Festival began on a very small scale, in the wake of Covid, in 2022. The festival aims to foster a love for orchestral and symphonic band music as well as strengthening the ties between schools and the wider community through coming together and playing to each other, all under the eyes and ears of a team of nationally and internationally respected adjudicators who not only provide feedback, but also work intensively with each group in a workshop session following their stage performance.
Burnside High School Head of Music and co-director of the Aurora Festival Chris Petch said: “after the success of the inaugural Aurora Festival last year, we are so excited to have secured the backing of Music Works and are grateful in particular to Darren Smith, Music Works NZ General Manager, for his interest in this initiative. With this level of support we are going to be able to grow the festival moving forwards, and hope to welcome groups from across the South Island and further afield this year, and into the future. Together with the existing Wellington based MEFA festival and Jazz Bandit competition, the young musicians around New Zealand now have an unprecedented range of opportunities through which they can get out and enjoy doing what they love the most – making music together.”
2023 PRESS RELEASE
A new MEFA partnership between Burnside High School Music Department and Music Works New Zealand is excited to announce the founding of a new music festival for primary, intermediate, high school and community based musical groups. To be hosted this year in The Aurora Centre at Burnside High School, Christchurch, on 31st August and 1st September, the Aurora Festival began on a very small scale, in the wake of Covid, in 2022. The festival aims to foster a love for orchestral and symphonic band music as well as strengthening the ties between schools and the wider community through coming together and playing to each other, all under the eyes and ears of a team of nationally and internationally respected adjudicators who not only provide feedback, but also work intensively with each group in a workshop session following their stage performance.
Burnside High School Head of Music and co-director of the Aurora Festival Chris Petch said: “after the success of the inaugural Aurora Festival last year, we are so excited to have secured the backing of Music Works and are grateful in particular to Darren Smith, Music Works NZ General Manager, for his interest in this initiative. With this level of support we are going to be able to grow the festival moving forwards, and hope to welcome groups from across the South Island and further afield this year, and into the future. Together with the existing Wellington based MEFA festival and Jazz Bandit competition, the young musicians around New Zealand now have an unprecedented range of opportunities through which they can get out and enjoy doing what they love the most – making music together.”
2023 PRESS RELEASE
2023 PRESS RELEASE
A new MEFA partnership between Burnside High School Music Department and Music Works New Zealand is excited to announce the founding of a new music festival for primary, intermediate, high school and community based musical groups. To be hosted this year in The Aurora Centre at Burnside High School, Christchurch, on 31st August and 1st September, the Aurora Festival began on a very small scale, in the wake of Covid, in 2022. The festival aims to foster a love for orchestral and symphonic band music as well as strengthening the ties between schools and the wider community through coming together and playing to each other, all under the eyes and ears of a team of nationally and internationally respected adjudicators who not only provide feedback, but also work intensively with each group in a workshop session following their stage performance.
Burnside High School Head of Music and co-director of the Aurora Festival Chris Petch said: “after the success of the inaugural Aurora Festival last year, we are so excited to have secured the backing of Music Works and are grateful in particular to Darren Smith, Music Works NZ General Manager, for his interest in this initiative. With this level of support we are going to be able to grow the festival moving forwards, and hope to welcome groups from across the South Island and further afield this year, and into the future. Together with the existing Wellington based MEFA festival and Jazz Bandit competition, the young musicians around New Zealand now have an unprecedented range of opportunities through which they can get out and enjoy doing what they love the most – making music together.”