When Envision Financial Jazz Festival takes place in February 2015, Powell River’s Sharp Five will be in attendance. The festival, in its 33rd year, is Canada’s largest and longest running educational jazz event.
Sharp Five, comprising of students at Brooks Secondary School, has begun fundraising for travel and entry costs. Band members Brett Parrish (piano), Andrew Roddan (trumpet and guitar), Clancy Sindlinger (vocals), Adam Robertson (drums) and Tylis Sliwinski (bass) will present a Christmas concert, 7:30 pm Saturday, December 6, at Rodmay Heritage Hotel’s Rainbow Room.
For Andrew and Adam, this will be their second time at the Envision festival. They attended in 2013 and placed well. “This was a great experience for us to play somewhere brand new,” said Andrew, “and see the progression in other combos, which consisted of members our age.”
In 2015 they and their band mates will try again. “We want to see how we compare to the other groups and try our hardest to win in our category, senior combo,” he said.
Competition will be tough. “Some of the players from the Lower Mainland play at a really high level,” said Andrew. However, there is always something to learn. “We wish to come back from the event with some good advice from the adjudicators to push us to the next level.”
Surrey School District hosts the event, which attracts 2,500 secondary school student musicians. Other contestants will be supported by school music teachers, however, Sharp Five will attend as a self-directed group, separate from school bands, although it will be representing Powell River and Brooks.
The Christmas concert will include a special guest. “Walter Martella will be joining us on a few songs,” said Andrew. He encourages people to purchase tickets. “We are young aspiring musicians and, who doesn’t like holiday music?”
Tickets are $13 available from band members and at the door. Proceeds from Sharp Five’s Christmas concert will be used to attend the jazz festival. More information about Envision is available online.
