Jazzing things up
Jazz music isn’t just for old men in suits. Ariel Conant finds that some local students are embracing the genre, all in the name of a good cause
[First published on 26 February, 2015] The lights dim, until just a spotlight shines on stage. The singer takes the microphone in hand as the band behind her begins to play. As they finish, the audience erupts.
But these musicians aren’t professional rock stars. They’re teenage jazz musicians from secondary schools across Hong Kong, brought together for the second Hong Kong Jazz Family Fest and ESF’s Got Musical Talent events. About 30 students joined more than 40 professional jazz musicians, raising funds for ESF’s Jockey Club Sarah Roe School for students with special educational needs (SEN).
Students from Discovery College, King George V School, South Island School, West Island School and Renaissance College performed for the crowd. For some, jazz is a very different genre of music from what they usually listen to.
Sorcha Jackson, 16, from West Island School, takes her singing inspiration from pop idol Taylor Swift. Even though Sorcha listens to more pop than jazz, she couldn’t pass up the chance to perform in front of a live audience.
“I love to sing, so the opportunity to do so on a stage all set up for a Jazz Festival was really worthwhile,” she says. But even with a passion for music, performing can still be nerve-wracking.
“The audience is right up close to the stage, so that can be a little intimidating,” she admits. In the end, though, all the hard work paid off. “It just feels like a professional gig!” Sorcha says.
