Wellington Jazz Academy students received accolades at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
Twenty students attended the festival in early March.
The highest individual honours went to Kenton Dick, alto saxophone player, and Ethan Olynyk, drums. The Wellington Quartet, consisting of Olynyk, Steve Berg, Dick and Erica Hanna, and the Dick-Olynyk Duo won their senior combo categories. Patrick Thompson, a Grade 11 guitar player, and Ian Perry, a Grade 9 guitar player, both received honourable mentions. The Wellington Grade 10-11 Band and Senior Jazz Band also received noteworthy awards.
In February, the academy students attended the Surrey Envisions Jazz Festival and was the top band of the festival, selected from 24 senior jazz bands in the province.
Wellington was honoured most outstanding senior band of the festival and the rhythm section received most outstanding rhythm section. Most outstanding senior jazz combo was awarded to Dick and Olynyk. In the individual categories, Berg won most outstanding senior guitar player of the year, Olynyk was awarded most outstanding drummer and received a full tuition scholarship to the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre’s camp. Dick was awarded most outstanding senior saxophone player and senior musician and won a $500 scholarship.
