As part of the KBB Music Festival, two ensembles of the highest standard are created with the aim to give opportunities to a range of some of the finest young musicians within Auckland schools. This year a total of 191 applications were received for places in the 2018 Honours Programme. The applicants needed to be of an outstanding calibre with a minimum of Grade 6 Performance under their belts.

A huge congratulations to our very own James Marriott of 11CR who has been selected to represent Rutherford College in the 2018 Honours Jazz Band playing trombone.

James has been playing Trombone for 4 1/2 years, he began learning Tenor Trombone in Year 7 at Liston College and sat his Trinity Guildhall Grade 6 Tenor Trombone exam last year. Since beginning at Rutherford College in Year 9 he has studied privately under Mark Close. Last year he also began learning Bass Trombone under Mark and is currently working towards sitting his Grade 8 Bass Trombone exam later this year.

As well as playing for the Rutherford College Concert Band, James also plays First Trombone for the West City Concert Band, Bass Trombone for the West City Jazz Orchestra and Bass Trombone for the North Harbour Swing Band.

The KBB Honours programme is very intense for the successful applicants. Both the Honours Jazz Band and Honours Symphony Orchestra will meet on Friday 10 August at 5pm to learn their repertoire and then perform at 8:30pm as part of the Honours Concert.

This event is free to the public and is to be held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Friday 10 August.

Congratulations again James!