The student jazz capital of Canada: 44th annual Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival runs Feb. 20 to 21!
The Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival is back next weekend for its 44th year! The longest-running educational jazz festival in Canada will feature performances by nearly 2,300 students from 41 schools across British Columbia, including 20 Surrey and White Rock secondary schools. (Photo by Jacob Zinn)
Nearly 2,300 students are set to take the stage at the 44th annual Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival on Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21 – the district’s biggest jazz festival yet!
Surrey Schools continues to host the longest-running educational jazz festival in Canada, with two full days of performances by musical and vocal jazz bands, ensembles and combos on four stages at the Bell Performing Arts Centre and other spaces in Sullivan Heights Secondary.
“For a lot of these kids, it’s a huge event, and perhaps for some of them their first time going to a festival,” said Jackie Howard, District Principal with Priority Practices. “They get to see other students play and jam, they get to meet new friends, they’re exposed to professional adjudicators who provide them extensive feedback, and the energy in the space is just electric. It’s really exciting for them to be there.”
Students from 20 Surrey and White Rock secondary schools will perform during the two-day event, including groups from Clayton Heights, École Earl Marriott, Elgin Park, Enver Creek, Fleetwood Park, Frank Hurt, Fraser Heights, Grandview Heights, Guildford Park, Johnston Heights, École Kwantlen Park, L.A. Matheson, Lord Tweedsmuir, North Surrey, École Panorama Ridge, Queen Elizabeth, École Salish, Semiahmoo, Sullivan Heights and Tamanawis secondary schools.
Additionally, jazz bands and music classes from neighbouring Lower Mainland communities and parts of Vancouver Island are making the trip to Sullivan Heights, bringing the total number of participating schools to an astounding 41.
Howard said the festival sees many students return year after year, as well as some alumni who watch the performances or volunteer their time to support various events. This year’s festival has also seen an increase in the number of combos, with students taking initiative with their performances.
“What’s interesting is when you’re in the room, the teachers sit back and the kids run the show,” she said. “They do a lot of improvisation and they kind of create it on their own. It’s a real showcase of how far they’ve come.”
Returning this year, students will have designated jam spaces to play together between performances, furthering the sense of community and experimentation with jazz.
Friday night includes a vocal jazz showcase, repertory band performances and a special series of songs by The Leading Ladies Little Big Band, a vibrant all-female group known for contemporary arrangements of ’40s, ’50s and ’60s jazz classics. Saturday night will feature an evening of celebration and performances by outstanding big bands and combos.
This year’s festival is sponsored by Long & McQuade, Tom Lee Music, Vancouver Backline Services, Global BC, CKNW, the Surrey Now-Leader, the Bell Performing Arts Centre, Gallacher Investments Inc., Lyle Singular, Matterhorn Music, Peninsula Arts Foundation, Tapestry Music, Thank You for the Music Society, the VSO School of Music and Winner’s Circle Trophies.
Admission to the festival is free, with cash donations accepted at the door to support student basic needs. Donations are also accepted online anytime and can be specified to support music in schools.
The Bell Performing Arts Centre is located at 6250 144 St. For more information, including the Friday and Saturday performance schedules, visit surreyschools.ca/jazzfestival
