Commencing in the 80's the Big Band has a proud history. They have performed with and accompanied jazz musicians Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Kim Richmond, Don Burrows, James Morrison, Emma Pask, Dale Barlow, Jason Morphett, Jeremy Borthwick, Warwick Alder, John Morrison, Dan Barnett, Andrew Dickeson, Kevin Hunt and The Idea of North.
They were the first Australian High School Jazz Ensemble to perform at the Montreux (Switzerland) and North Sea (Holland) Jazz Festivals. The Big Band toured to California in 1990 and 1993, and has been a part of Wind Orchestras' tours to the USA in 2000 and 2012 and to Europe to 2004 and 2009. A highlight of the 2012 tour to the USA was the workshop and concert with Los Angeles sax player/composer Gordon Goodwin. Last year they performed two concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival and released a CD.
In recent years the band has been led by trumpeter Warwick Alder, one of Australia's leading jazz musicians and a teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Ellen Kirkwood, trumpet player, composer and graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, leads Big Band 2.
Both Big Bands perform regularly as guests of the Chatswood RSL Club.
In 2014 Big Band 1 hosted and performed with Gordon Goodwins Big Phat Band (May) and with the James Morrison Quintet (August).
Each year the Big Band accompany our Year 12 musicians in their HSC pieces.
Past students Darren Percival ('The Voice') and Liam Burrows (Australia, You've Got Talent') have recently given performances with the backing of the Chatswood High Big Band
They were the first Australian High School Jazz Ensemble to perform at the Montreux (Switzerland) and North Sea (Holland) Jazz Festivals. The Big Band toured to California in 1990 and 1993, and has been a part of Wind Orchestras' tours to the USA in 2000 and 2012 and to Europe to 2004 and 2009. A highlight of the 2012 tour to the USA was the workshop and concert with Los Angeles sax player/composer Gordon Goodwin. Last year they performed two concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival and released a CD.
In recent years the band has been led by trumpeter Warwick Alder, one of Australia's leading jazz musicians and a teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Ellen Kirkwood, trumpet player, composer and graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, leads Big Band 2.
Both Big Bands perform regularly as guests of the Chatswood RSL Club.
In 2014 Big Band 1 hosted and performed with Gordon Goodwins Big Phat Band (May) and with the James Morrison Quintet (August).
Each year the Big Band accompany our Year 12 musicians in their HSC pieces.
Past students Darren Percival ('The Voice') and Liam Burrows (Australia, You've Got Talent') have recently given performances with the backing of the Chatswood High Big Band