The Conservatorium Big Band Directed by James Sandon The Con Big Band was established in 2001, making this ensemble the 21st edition. The band is chosen by audition from Jazz and Classical students. Repertoire is specifically selected from the classic big band era. This genre of music would be found in dance halls in the 1910s, becoming increasingly popular through the 1930s and 1940’s, fostering collective performance to produce a unified sound. The skills learned in big band performing are essential in forming the framework for young musicians through collaboration, listening and research. James Sandon, originally from Perth, is one of the most natural and talented saxophonists in the country with the rare combination of instrumental technique and natural melodic and rhythmic drive. A thirty-two year career in the industry has seen James performing in the U.S.A., Asia, and Australasia. Now based in Brisbane, Sandon is currently a lecturer in saxophone and jazz studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music at Griffith University.
Sax 1 James Prendergast
Trombone 1 Thomas Evans-Grulke
Sax 2 Samantha Keogh
Trombone 2 James Wilke
Sax 3 Ashley Hutton
Trombone 3 Ethan Bensted
Sax 4 Siobhan Turner
Trombone 4 Sophie Ainsworth
Sax 5 Rosie Leeson Trumpet 1 Benjamin Oldham
Piano William Ellerton
Trumpet 2 Gabriel Garcia
Guitar Marcus Church
Trumpet 3 James Battersby Trumpet 4 George Perrers
Bass Joshua Mellor Drums Jordan Cant
Trumpet 5 Atticus Shipstone Vocalists Lara McGahan Alistair Hill
Nice Work If You Can Get It Featuring: Lara McGahan Embraceable You Featuring: Lara McGahan
Music and Lyrics by George Gerswhin and Ira Gershwi Arranged by Dave Wolpe Music and Lyrics by George Gerswhin and Ira Gershwin Arranged by Dave Wolpe
Tickle Toe Featuring: The saxophone section
Music by Lester Young As played by the Count Basie Orchestra
Fly Me To The Moon Featuring: Alistair Hill
Music by Bart Howard As played by the Count Basie Orchestra
I Get a Kick Out of You Featuring: Alistair Hill
Music by Cole Porter Arranged by Neal Hefti
Consonance Raised Voices Directed by Hannah Macklin Consonance and Raised Voices form the core vocal activity for all students in the jazz program, with Consonance being primarily comprised of jazz vocal majors. These groups support skills that are acquired through Music Materials courses with a focus on ensemble work, intonation, rhythm, groove, and most importantly the cultivation of musical enjoyment. Hannah Macklin has been performing and shape-shifting between Brisbane and Melbourne over the last decade under names Laik, Ha Na, Bastard Amber & MKO Sun. Vocally virtuosic, Hannah has established a reputation for providing audiences with exciting and transcendent experiences. She has opened shows for internationally-renowned artists such as Peaches, Ibeyi, Cody ChestnuTT, Hiatus Kaiyote, Fatima, Montaigne and Katie Noonan. Hannah has collaborated with a plethora of musicians from around Australia and beyond, crossing jazz, rock, hip-hop/soul and electronic circles. Currently based in Brisbane, she is performing as Hannah Maxx: fronting her band and collaborating with Nepalese tabla master Dheeraj Shrestha. Consonance Grace Arnell David Hoey Liam Keates-Ryley Tessa Pavilach Etienne Steven Lizzie Thompson Natasha Warren-James Naomi Phillips Andrew Frangou
Joshua Linnett Ruby May Nhu Nguyen April Rawlins Alice Kerr Catriona Lincoln Sofia Giacoboni Zackary Keleher
Ethan Bensted Casey Davies William Ellerton Samuel Hudson Joh Kotoda Harry Ottley George Perrers Reuben Rees
Aidan Schulz Samuel Scully Lachlan Wesener Thomas Woodman James Todd Cameron McConville Jess Unverzagt Layni Cameron
Jamie Brillus Luka Duffy Noah Gillespie Cooper Grining Aidan Henderson Johanna Ide Sebastian Lane-Porter
Callum Pascoe Kyung Bin Pyun Lucas Tan Kurtis West James Wilke Wenshua Xie
Raised Voices 1
Raised Voices 2
Accompanied by Sophie Min (piano) Prototype
André 3000 Arranged by Hannah Macklin
Waters of March
Sergio Mendes Arranged by Hannah Macklin
Honeycomb
Kahdja Bonet Arranged by Hannah Macklin
Get Sun
Hiatus Kaiyote / Arthur Verocai Arranged by Hannah Macklin
The Con Artists Jazz Orchestra Directed by Steve Newcomb The Con Artists, formed at QCGU by John Hoffman in 1996, are a jazz orchestra showcasing Brisbane’s brightest emerging talent. Under the direction of Steve Newcomb since 2013, the ensemble regularly performs new works by up-and-coming composers and arrangers, in addition to traditional and contemporary classics by the well-established composers of big band repertoire. In the last 20+ years, guest soloists of the Con Artists have included: Christine Sullivan, Dale Barlow, Joe Chindamo, Jim Pugh, Scott Tinkler, Jacam Manricks, Mat Jodrell, James Morrison, Will Vinson, and Tony Gould to name but a few. Their most recently released album recording “On the Other Side” featured distinguished alumni vocalists Katie Noonan, Kristin Berardi, Elly Hoyt, Hannah Macklin, Emma Dean, Luara Karlson-Carp, and Megan Washington. Steve Newcomb is an Australian pianist equally in demand for his unique touch on the piano and detailed composing and arranging style that explores a realm shared by jazz and new music. He enjoys sharing the stage with a multitude of artists of various styles and genres, making “music in a knotty zone where Thelonious Monk meets classical music” (Sydney Morning Herald). Newcomb has written for a wide array of artists and ensembles, from Ben Folds, Augie March, and The Panics in the ‘pop’ world, to the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras in the ‘classical’ world. As an arranger, Steve has worked in collaboration with Katie Noonan, Chris McNulty, Queensland Music Festival, Metropole Orkest, among others. He is Senior Lecturer and Head of Jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, and completed Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees at Manhattan School of Music under Kenny Barron and Jim McNeely. Sax 1 Mika Atkinson
Trombone 1 Tan Sanyodkam
Sax 2 Harry Ottley
Trombone 2 Sophie Ainsworth
Sax 3 Joshua O’Byrne
Trombone 3 William Muir
Sax 4 Niv Bergman
Trombone 4 Rhys Keane
Sax 5 Theo Parrott Trumpet 1 Benjamin Oldham
Piano Joseph Machen
Trumpet 2 Gabriel Garcia
Guitar Matthew Teakle
Trumpet 3 Atticus Shipstone
Bass Bernard Morgan
Trumpet 4 Zac Chambers
Bass Elliott Parker Vibraphone David Watts
Vocalists Melissa Clarke
Drums Joshua Batka Drums Grace King
Thomas Pegler
I Hear a Rhapsody George Fragos, Jack Baker and Dick Gasparre Featuring: Niv Bergman (tenor sax), Matthew Teakle (guitar), Joseph Machen (piano) Arranged by Bob Mintzer Round Midnight Featuring: Thomas Pegler (voice)
Music by Thelonious Monk, lyrics by Bernie Hanighen Arranged by Marty Paich
My Romance Featuring: Grace King (drums), Thomas Pegler (voice), Joshua O’Byrne (tenor sax), Sophie Ainsworth (trombone)
Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart Arranged by Mace Francis
Skylark Featuring: Melissa Clarke (voice), Matthew Teakle (guitar), Mika Atkinson (alto sax), Joseph Machen (piano)
Music by Hoagy Carmichael, lyrics by Johnny Mercer Arranged by Bob Brookmeyer
Triste Featuring: Melissa Clarke (voice), Tan Sanyodkam (trombone), David Watts (vibraphone), Matthew Teakle (guitar)
Antonio Carlos Jobim Arranged by Kavita Shah
Mr JJ Featuring: Joshua Batka (drums), Harry Ottley (alto sax), Gabriel Garcia (trumpet), Theo Parrott (bari sax), Matthew Teakle (guitar)
Jeff “Tain” Watts Arranged by Laura Kahle