Band Clothing Now Available For Sale

Now you can order your hoodies, t-shirts, golf shirts and sweatpants with (or without) the Jazz Academy logo emblazoned on the chest or leg.

Check out the clothing, complete with pictures, descriptions and sizes: Wellington Jazz Clothing

When you're ready to order, download the order form.

Nanaimo Students Dominate at MusicFest

A 24-student contingent from the Wellington Secondary School Band walked off with an armload of awards, honours and $10,000 in scholarship money at the annual MusicFest Canada in Ottawa, Ont. this spring.

The hard-working students from Wellington were led by baritone saxophonist Christine Morrison, trombonist Kayleigh Gillespie and trumpeter Matthis Rasche as three of only 18 young Canadians chosen to play in the national Yamaha All Star Jazz Band.

Other honours and scholarships were as follows:

• Bass player Avery Littlemore, Guitarist Llewellyn Littlemore, Baritone saxophonist Christine Morrison, guitarist Jacob Skeeles, drummer John Lee, trumpeter Matthis Rasche, tenor saxophonist Josh Rey and pianist Niko Lunny each won a $1,000 scholarship to Humber College in Toronto.
• Vocalist Taylor Manns and trumpeter Erin Blackmore each won a $500 scholarship to Humber College.
• Drummer Michael Mlikotic won a $1000 scholarship to Vancouver Island University.

Avery Littlemore, Llewellyn Littlemore, Christine Morrison, Jacob Skeeles, Chris Miller, Niko Lunny, John Lee, Taylor Manns and Erin Blackmore also received Yamaha Honor Awards.

All bands and combos were also graded according to their standard. The Wellington Senior Jazz Band and all eight jazz combos that attended MusicFest Canada all scored gold.

2010 West Coast Jazz Festival Awards

• Christine Morrison – Most Outstanding Sr. Bariton Sax Player
• Jacob Skeeles – Most Outstanding Sr. Guitar Player
• John Lee – Most Outstanding Sr. Drummer
• Cameron Wong – Most Outstanding Jr. Alto Sax
• Josh Rey – Most Outstanding Jr. Tenor Sax Player
• Trenton Gagnon – Most Outstanding Jr. Baritone Sax Player
• Charlotte Gunn – Most Outstanding Jr. Piano Player
• Josh Rey – Most Outstanding Jr. Bass Player
• Jordan Pynn – Most Outstanding Jr. Guitar Player
• Taylor Manns – Most Outstanding Jr. Vocalist
• Berklee College of Music
• 35% tuition awards towards Summer Performance Program
• Matthis Rasche
• Erin Blackmore
• Avery Littlemore
• 25% tuition awards towards Summer Performance Program
• Llewellyn Littlemore
• Chris Miller
• Phil Dwyer Summer Academy of Musical and Culinary Arts
• $100 Scholarship
• Jesse McNeil
• Kayleigh Gillespie
• Tom Lee $25 Gift Certificates
• Kelly Mathews
• Ryan Warbrick
• Tom Lee Drum Prize
• Natasha Hoskins
• Humber College Scholarships
• $500
• Erin Blackmore
• Jacob Skeeles
• Taylor Manns
• Christine Morrison
• Josh Rey
• Niko Lunny
• CD Solo Prize Awards
• Meghan Hilborn
• Jessica d'Oliveira
• Courtney Mayor
• Megan Kliment
• Anna Mont
• Niko Lunny
• Elan Jonas McRae
• Michael Mlikotic
• Simon Jung
• Dallas Chubby
• John Lee
• Padraic Hilderbrand
• Breyanna Hiebert
• Sarah Challenger
• Cameron Wong
• Amy McCartie

The Jensen Sisters Play Mrs. Riches

The Wellington Jazz Academy and Mrs. Riches Restaurant are pleased to announce that Ingrid and Christine Jensen, Nanaimo's Juno nominated and award winning jazz musicians will be performing at a fund raising beer and burger event.

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010, at 5:30 p.m.

Only $12!

Hurry and make your reservations today - bring a friend, enjoy some fine quality entertainment, and support the students of the Wellington Jazz Academy.

For reservations, call 250.753.8311

Top Honours brought home from Moscow Idaho's Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Exhilarating performances by Wellington High School Jazz Academy students resulted in several awards for the young musicians at the prestigious Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow Idaho. Over 7500 students from across the Pacific Northwest and as far away as Alaska took part this year.

Individual honours went to Jacob Skeeles for guitar solo and Niko Lunny for piano solo. Both were invited to perform at Hamp's Club. Hamp's Club invitations are only given to the most outstanding student performances.

Wellington's grade 11 jazz band also took top honours in their category earning a spot playing on the Young Artist's Stage Saturday night prior to the evening's performance by the Lionel Hampton Big Band. Also invited to play on the main stage Friday night was the Littlemore/Manns/Lee trio made up of vocalist Taylor Manns, bassist Avery Littlemore and drummer John Lee. This was the first time the festival invited a combo to play on the Young Artist's stage. The honour is normally reserved for full bands.

Wellington's senior quartet, made up of guitarist Jacob Skeeles, baritone saxophonist Christine Morrison, bassist Avery Littlemore and drummer John Lee also won their category receiving outstanding recognition by adjudicators.

In all 71 Wellington High School students, accompanied by teachers, chaperones and parents made the trek to the competition. This was the 13th year Wellington Bands have appeared at the festival. The bands are directed by Carmella Luvisotto and Steve Jones.

Bands and students win at the Surrey Envisions Jazz Festival

Wellington Secondary School's leadings jazz musicians were celebrated as among the best in B.C. at the Envision Jazz Festival in Surrey.

Wellington students claimed honors as the best senior bass, piano, guitar, drums and vibes players, the best rhythm section and the best senior combo. The Grade 10 and Grade 12 Jazz Bands both placed in the top four in the province, qualifying to play in the evening showcase concerts. And Grade 9 student Josh Ray, chosen Best Junior Saxophone, was also named as Most Outstanding Overall Junior Musician - claiming one of Envision's highest accolades.

The Envision Jazz Festival is the foremost high school competition in the province, this year attracting 22 junior bands and 23 senior bands. Students perform for adjudicators and for one another, and enjoy clinics from top jazz professionals, this year including Tyler Summers, Cam Ryga and Jodi Proznick.

Thanks to the strength of a Wellington Jazz Academy program led by Carmella Luvisotto and Steve Jones, Wellington students are always a threat at the festival, but the wins this year were particularly impressive. At the evening concerts, eight students were honored:

• Avery Littlemore, Grade 12 – Most Outstanding Sr. Bass Player
• Jacob Skeeles, Grade 12 – Most Outstanding Sr. Guitar Player
• John Lee, Grade 12 – Most Outstanding Sr. Drummer and Sr. Vibraphone Player
• Niko Lunny, Grade 11 – Most Outstanding Sr. Piano Player
• Christine Morrison, Grade 11 – on baritone sax was awarded a $300 scholarship towards post-secondary education
• Llewellyn Littlemore, Grade 11 – on guitar was awarded a $400 scholarship to attend the Comox Valley Youth Music Jazz Camp
• The Littlemore Duo, featuring brothers Avery and Llewellyn Littlemore – Most Outstanding Jazz Combo of the Festival
• The Wellington Grade 12 Jazz Band Rhythm Section – Most Outstanding Sr. Rhythm Section
• Taylor Manns, Grade 10 – Most Outstanding Junior Vocalist
• Josh Rey, Grade 9 – Most Outstanding Overall Jr. Musician, Most Outstanding Jr. Saxophone Player and a $400 scholarship to attend the Comox Valley Youth Music Jazz Camp

Students Chosen For Honour Band

Five Wellington Secondary students were chosen to participate in the 2009 British Columbia Music Educators Honour Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Choir Rhythm Section.

Grade 12 jazz students Jacob Skeeles on guitar and Anna Mont on trombone, and Grade 11 students Erin Blackmore on trumpet, Llewellyn Littlemore on guitar and Christine Morrison on baritone sax were selected from among thousands of eligible jazz instrumental students from across B.C.

Featuring the finest high school musicians in the province, the honour ensembles' performances are the highlight of the annual British Columbia Music Educators' Association Conference, this year at Pacific Academy in Langley Oct. 22-24.

Students were asked to send in an application and audition tape consisting of various musical techniques. These tapes were then adjudicated and members for the various ensembles were picked. Greg Gatien a saxophone player, professor and educator from Brandon University directed the Honour Jazz Band, including Skeeles, Mont, Morrison, Blackmore and 15 other students. Littlemore joins three other instrumentalists to back up the Honour Vocal Jazz Choir Rhythm Section under the direction of John Chalmers from Toronto.

These groups met for a weekend rehearsal before the conference and then again on Oct. 20 for three intense days of rehearsal with two concert performances, including an appearance at the Jazz Cellar Club in Vancouver.

Nanaimo Students Dominate at MusicFest (Again)

NATIONAL ADJUDICATORS ASK: “WHAT'S IN THE WATER OUT THERE?”

A 27-student contingent from the Wellington Secondary School Band walked off with an armload of awards, honours and $6,000 in scholarship money at the annual MusicFest Canada in Toronto, Ont. last week, prompting one of the jazz adjudicators to ask, “What's in the water out there?”

With leading lights like Diana Krall and Christine and Ingrid Jensen already on the international scene, Nanaimo has an established reputation as a jazz hotbed. And the consistent high performance of Carmella Luvisotto and Steve Jones' students from the Wellington Jazz Academy is maintaining that reputation.

But the MusicFest jazz venue master of ceremonies Carolyn Walker (who is also married to renowned Nanaimo jazz educator Bryan Stovell) set the record straight, saying, “It's not in the water; it's in the hard work.”

The hard-working students from Wellington were led by pianist Ted Littlemore, one of only 17 young Canadians chosen to play in the national Yamaha All Star Jazz Band. Other honours and scholarships were as follows:

• Ted Littlemore also won the top scholarship of $2,500 to Humber College in Toronto.
• Bass player Avery Littlemore won a $1,500 scholarship to Humber College and also a full tuition scholarship to the Summer Jazz Intensive Camp at Douglas College in Richmond.
• Tenor sax player Lucas Smart won a $1,000 scholarship to Humber College.
• Guitarist Llewellyn Littlemore won a $500 scholarship to Humber College.

Ted Littlemore, Avery Littlemore, Lucas Smart, baritone saxophonist Christine Morrison, guitarist Jacob Skeeles and baritone saxophonist Hans Carolsfeld also received Yamaha Honor Awards.

All bands and combos were also graded according to their standard. The Wellington Senior Jazz Band and five jazz combos all scored gold. The combos included: Don't Doo Dhat; Grade 10/11 Jazz Combo; JAM Jazz Combo; The Littlemore Trio; and Joshin’ Around. The Wellington Concert Band received a bronze.

For more information, contact: Wellington Band Director Carmella Luvisotto at 250.758.9191

2009 West Coast Jazz Festival

• Berklee College of Music
• 35% tuition awards to Berklee Summer Performance Program
• Jacob Skeeles
• Chris Miller
• Most Outstanding Sr. Tenor Sax Player – Lucas Smart
• Most Outstanding Sr. Trumpet Player – Sasha Halfyard
• Most Outstanding Sr. Piano Player – Ted Littlemore
• Most Outstanding Sr. Bass Player – Avery Littlemore
• Most Outstanding Sr. Drummer – John Lee
• Most Outstanding Jr. Baritone Sax Player – Christine Morrison
• Most Outstanding Jr. Piano Player – Niko Lunny
• John Capon Summer Jazz Academy 2009 – $175 Scholarships
• Jessica d'Oliviera
• Taylor Manns
• Long and McQuade $25 Gift Certificate – Charlotte Gunn
• Harbour City Jazz Society
• $100 Scholarships
• Colin Paugh
• Llewellyn Littlemore
• Josh Rey
• Courtney Youth Music Camp $100 Scholarship
• Erin Blackmore
• Sea Jazz – Kwalikum Summer Jazz Camp – $175 Scholarship
• Kayleigh Gillespie
• Phil Dwyer Summer Academy of Musical and Culinary Arts – $150 Scholarship
• Anna Mont
• West Coast Jazz Festival Solo Awards for outstanding solos
• Andrea Hilborn
• Emily Sorochan
• Victoria Rickson
• Simon Jung
• Thomas Miller
• Melissa Partee
• Josh Rey
• Jessica d'Oliviera
• Jordan Pynn
• Amy McCartie
• Breynna Hiebert
• Cameron Wong
• Brandon Friess
• Meghan Hilborn
• Michael Mlikotic
• Paul Kim
• Padraic Hildebrand
• Kitina Munroe
• Dallas Chubby
• Reily Marceau

2009 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Students from Wellington Secondary School in Nanaimo brought home the hardware from the 42nd annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow Idaho last week.

Fourteen year-old Grade 9 student Taylor Manns took top honours as Most Outstanding Alto Soloist among grades 9-12 Jazz singers, competing against 30 other students.

“Joshin’ Around” took top honours as the Most Outstanding Junior combo in the Junior Secondary Jazz combo category. The combo is made up of students Christine Morrison, Josh Rey, Thomas Miller, Jessica D'Oliviera, Llew Littlemore and Niko Lunny.

Wellington’s Senior Jazz band won Most Outstanding Jazz Band in the “A” category earning them a spot on the stage at the 20,000 seat Kibbie Dome to perform alongside jazz greats such as John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Benny Green, Wally “Gator” Watson, Christian Fabian, Monty Alexander and the Lionel Hampton Big Band. The band also received a full drum kit from the Ludwig Drum Company.

Grade 11 Jazz guitarist Jacob Skeeles received an honourable mention in the in the Solo guitar competition for grades 9 to 12.

94 students from Wellington’s Jazz Academy, under the direction of Carmella Luvisotto and Steve Jones, made the trip.

16,000 students from across Canada, the western U-S, Alaska and as far away as Indiana took part in the festival, the largest educational Jazz music festival in North America.

2009 Surrey Jazz

Grade 12 student Ted Littlemore was awarded with the Most Outstanding Sr. Piano Player Award.

Grade 12 student Sasha Halfyard on trumpet was awarded a $200 cash award to R&R Music.

Grade 11 student Avery Littlemore on bass was awarded a $250 scholarship to the Comox Valley Youth Music Camp.

Grade 11 student John Lee on drums was awarded a $150 scholarship to the Victoria Conservatory of Music Jazz Camp.

Grade 10 student Llew Littlemore was awarded with the Most Outstanding Jr. Guitar Player Award.

Grade 9 Vocalist Taylor Manns was awarded the Most Outstanding Vocalist of the Festival.

The following Wellington students performed in the Surrey Rep Bands:

• Jr. Rep Band:
• Thomas Miller
• Christine Morrison
• Erin Blackmore

• Sr. Rep Band:
• Anna Mont
• Ted Littlemore
• Lucas Smart

All-Canadian Jazz Festival

The All-Canadian Jazz Festival Port Hope has earned popular and critical recognition as a showcase for the finest in Canadian jazz. As the Globe & Mail noted back in 2002, some Canadian festivals hire Canadian musicians because they can’t afford to bring in musicians from farther away. The All-Canadian Jazz Festival, by contrast, made a conscious decision to focus on the astonishingly diverse and talented Canadian jazz community. Part of this festival is a wonderful opportunity for young Canadian jazz musicians to apply through audition tapes to be part of the TD Canada Trust Young Jazz Showcase group which includes an all expenses paid trip and educational experience of being part of a small jazz combo made of Canada’s best young jazz musicians.

This year the group consists of 5 musicians, two of whom are from BC including the Wellington Secondary Jazz Academy Program’s own Ted Littlemore on piano.

The group will meet for the first time on the Thursday before the festival and perform together twice in the following days as part of the Port Hope Jazz Festival’s TD Canada Trust Young Jazz Showcase under the direction of conductor Denny Christianson, Director of Music, Humber College Toronto.

2008 Gift Wrapping Schedule Available

The gift wrapping schedule for the 2008 Winter Season is now available. There are still spots that need filling. Take a look and see if you can find a spot that meets your schedule. Call Jenny Webb at 758.1869 or email to webbsite@shaw.ca.

2008 Gift Wrap Schedule.doc (Last update: December 7, 2008)

Nanaimo Students Dominate at MusicFest Canada

Four Wellington Secondary Musicians Earn $7,000 in Prizes

A 14-student contingent from the Wellington Secondary School Jazz Academy walked off with an armload of awards, honours and $7,000 in scholarship money at the annual MusicFest Canada in Ottawa, Ont., on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

“It was a sweep,” said Wellington band director Carmella Luvisotto. “All five of our bands and combos won Gold for their performances.”

Luvisotto, who runs the Wellington program with the assistance of Vancouver Island University music professor Steve Jones, said she was particularly proud that Wellington provided three of the 17 students chosen for the national Yamaha All Star Jazz Band: grade 12 students Kelsey Hepples on baritone sax and Zack Krastel on tenor sax and Grade 11 student Ted Littlemore on piano. All Star band director and Humber College Music Director Denny Christianson said Wellington’s good showing was “no accident.” Rather, he said, it reflects a tradition of good teaching that goes back to the days of Brian Stovell, a tradition that has produced stars like Diana Krall and Ingrid and Christine Jensen.

“That success means that there is not only dedication, but talent and experience among the teachers,” Christianson said, adding: “To say that the talent output in B.C. is out of proportion to the rest of the country would be an understatement, and I see more, not less, talent on the horizon.”

This year’s MusicFest Canada was the biggest in history, featuring 10,000 students from across Canada competing in Concert Band, Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz and Instrumental Jazz Divisions.

In addition to those honored with a place in the All Star Band – and a chance to perform on the big stage at the National Arts Centre – the following students won prizes or scholarships:

• Kelsey Hepples, won the top Rico Golden Reed Award with a $500 cash prize, as well as a $2,000 scholarship to Humber College in Toronto.
• Bass player Colin Gillespie won a $2,000 scholarship to Humber College.
• Alto/tenor saxophonist Zack Krastel won a $1,500 scholarship to Humber College.
• Ted Littlemore won a $1,000 scholarship to Humber College.
• Gillespie, Hepples, Krastel, Littlemore and tenor saxophonist Lucas Smart also received Yamaha Honor Awards.

The Program

We are proud to say that the Wellington Secondary School Band Program in Nanaimo, B.C. is one of the finest, most prolific and highly successful publicly-funded high school music programs in British Columbia.

Carmella Luvisotto has been our leading music director since 1996. In February 2005, in her effort to recognize and advance the needs of young musicians in the district, Carmella successfully applied to the School Board to have Wellington Secondary School introduce a Jazz Academy. The Jazz Academy, a first in the district, moves into its third year next semester, a respected addition to the school’s already successful band program.

The Wellington music program is credited with providing a range of music subjects and educational and performing opportunities for novice, junior and advanced students. The program offers a fun and safe interactive program that builds character, self-esteem, confidence and teamwork between and among students. We expect nothing less than the highest level of commitment and discipline from our students which is the standard that is already in place at Wellington.

Due to scarce resources, students who wish to take their music to the next level are encouraged to pursue private music lessons, clinics and master classes during the school year, including summer music camps. Unfortunately, these are extraordinary costs over and above regular school fees that not all families are able to afford. Where necessary, we have been able to support needy students who show great artistic promise, ensuring they receive the necessary assistance and mentorship to succeed in life.

All students are strongly encouraged to participate in our year-round “musicians-in-training” programs that we undertake with the help of local businesses, arts and cultural groups, and civic organizations in our community. On this note, we have young musicians who, after logging hundred of hours of practice and public performances in the community, have surpassed expectations and have demonstrated the potential to excel in their chosen instruments.

Wellington band students are great ambassadors for our school, the district and the City of Nanaimo. Wherever they choose to perform, our students have consistently impressed adjudicators and audiences with their level of maturity and musicianship. As we have done in past years, two Wellington students (Colin Gillespie and Kelsey Hepples) won their individual solo competitions at the 2008 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Indeed, a great feat to achieve on foreign soil by Canadian teen-agers from a small coastal town in the Pacific Northwest.

We consistently participate in national events such as the MusicFest Canada. At the 2007 festival, the Wellington band program sent a total of eighteen groups, one of the largest contingents from across Canada. We finished the festival with twelve gold and six silver medals, plus national honours awards for individual instrumentalists.

We also have done well in local and provincial festivals such as the West Coast Jazz Festival, Vancouver Island Concert Band Festival, Ballenas Jazz Festival and the Surrey Jazz Festival. Since 1996, Wellington band students have been recipients of Canadian and U.S. scholarships, bursaries and national honours for their outstanding performances.

The Wellington Secondary band program is also a great supporter of Canadian musicians and compositions. In the last couple of years, with money raised by our students, parents and volunteers, we were able to send a large contingent of students to attend master classes, workshops and clinics by visiting musicians such as Christine Jensen, Ingrid Jensen, Phil Dwyer, Brad Turner, the Toronto Jazz Septet, Joel Miller and Mandala, Brian Lillos, Kristen Korb, Pam York, and many others. We will continue to raise money to provide more educational opportunities for as many high school music students interested in pursuing music.

Honours

Grade 12 Bass Player Colin Gillespie was accepted and performed with TD Canadian All Stars at the Port Hope Jazz Festival in Port Hope, Ontario.

Grade 12 students Kelsey Hepples on baritone sax and Colin Gillespie on bass were part of the BC Music Educators Honour Jazz Band at the BC Music Educators conference in October, 2007.

The Music Teacher

Carmella Luvisotto, born and raised in Nanaimo, has been the music teacher at Wellington Secondary School since 1996. She is a product of the successful Nanaimo high school band program and credits her mentors Bryan Stovell, David Strong, Steve Jones, Gerry Taylor and Dan Hudson for setting her professional career on course.

Carmella learned to love music at a young age through her father who was one of the first teachers in Nanaimo to start teacher band classes. It was his love for jazz that eventually convinced her to pursue jazz. Carmella took up piano at the age of seven. Carmella learned to play the clarinet in Grade 6 under the direction of Dan Hudson. Two years later, she moved to Woodlands Secondary School where she continued her music studies under the late Dave Strong who didn’t waste time getting her started in jazz and encouraged her to play with various stage bands, combos and Dixieland bands. Dave Strong’s inspiration, and later influences of band teacher Bryan Stovell, would lead Carmella to concentrate on piano. She would eventually take lessons with Diana Krall, Pamela Butchart York and Hugh Fraser.

Carmella went on to complete the Malaspina jazz program under the direction of Steve Jones and soon after headed to the University of Victoria where she completed her music education degree in 1996. Her teaching practicum took her back to the Nanaimo school district as Bryan Stovell’s underling. She was later offered a teaching position at the Wellington Secondary School which she still holds to this day.

Carmella is well respected in the community for her passion and dedication to teaching. While engaged as a full-time music teacher during the day, she is also one of Nanaimo’s most accomplished musician and pianist. She has played with noted international musicians Wally Gator Watson and Christian Fabian (of the Lionel Hampton Quartet), Horace Alexander Young, Christine Jensen, Hugh Fraser, Ingrid Jensen and Ross Taggart, among others. She is a regular member of the 10-piece band ‘Decadence’ and from time to time plays with mentors Jones and Stovell at local events.

In May 2004, in recognition of her dedication and outstanding work as a Canadian music educator, MusicFest Canada presented Carmella with the highly coveted Keith Mann Award for Most Outstanding Band Director in Canada, during the award ceremonies held in Montreal. There is no doubt that the Keith Mann award speaks highly of her qualifications as a music educator and as a person who has volunteered thousands of hours outside the classroom to raise awareness for her music program in the community.