Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival

05/03/2026

*REGISTATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2026!*
5th - 8th August - Marlborough
Southern Jam 2026 Registration Form: ttps://forms.fillout.com/t/8CHjat4Hw3us
LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

03/03/2026

Registration Forms out TOMORROW THURSDAY 5th MARCH! Look out in your in boxes or see the link posted tomorrow. Make sure you register promptly as we have limited spaces. With all our exciting new additions to the programme this year, (including our collaboration with SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music), we anticipate being fully booked.

Plus Southern Jam turns 21!! What a milestone to arrive at! Such a legacy that we have created, and I am so proud to have been involved in most of the events from the early days to date. Growing the festival into the major success and the legacy from so many past students going on to do amazing things in music, heralding SJAM as their portal into the world of jazz. We have had so many amazing, world class musicians involved in our judging panel over the years, not least of all Rodger Fox, who will always have a place in southern jammers hearts. So happy Birthday to us and the many amazing participants, audiences, organisers and of course our teachers and professional judges – we couldn’t have made it here without you!" New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington KBB Music Marlborough District Council Marlborough, New Zealand

27/01/2026

https://sounz.org.nz/news/southern-jam-recipients

Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival and SOUNZ Toi te Arapūoru are thrilled to announce Callum Allardice and Jasmine Lovell-Smith as the two composers selected for the SOUNZ | Southern Jam Commission. This new commission funded by the Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust allows two jazz composers to write new works for performance by the All Stars Band at this year’s Southern Jam.

Just one of our new initiatives for Southern Jam this year - more news to follow! You won't want to miss being part of this years event 5 - 8th August.

Registrations will be out by early March - limited spaces available. Watch this space for announcements!

Marlborough District Council Follow-ME Marlborough Events ASB Theatre Marlborough Marlborough Youth Trust Marlborough, New Zealand Marlborough Library

16/11/2025

We are delighted to be working with SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music for Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival to bring our participating schools and students even more reason to attend the 2026 event! Sounz are offering Composers a grant to create pieces of music for Souther Jam to be performed by our All Stars Band 🌟
Marlborough District Council

📣 CALL FOR PROPOSALS - SOUNZ JAZZ COMPOSERS 📣

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music and Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival are pleased call for proposals from jazz composers to write new works to be performed by the All Stars Band at the 2026 Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival.

This commission will provide grants of $3,500 to each of two composers, to write a new work in a mid-tempo blues, fusion, or Latin style.

The successful composers will also be given an honorarium to cover domestic travel to Blenheim for the Southern Jam Festival in August 2026, in order to work with the All Stars Band and to run a workshop on jazz composition during the festival.

Proposals for the SOUNZ Southern Jam Commission should be submitted before 5pm on Monday 1 December 2025. Find out more and apply via the 🔗 link in comments. 🔗

09/08/2025

So excited to announce all our winners from Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival 2025! Congrats to you all - what a fab week we have had.....just the Finale Gala Concert to go....Sold out so we've added in a row of seats - get in quick!! ASB Theatre Marlborough or Eventfinda NZ Marlborough District Council KBB Music Marlborough, New Zealand Follow-ME Marlborough Events

09/08/2025

Workshops this morning and now All Stars Band 🤩 rehearsal - getting ready for tonight’s Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival 2025 Gala Concert! We’ve opened up another row of seats as we had sold out so get in quick if you want to see ALL the participating schools and winners perform 7pm at ASB Theatre Marlborough! Marlborough District Council Marlborough, New Zealand Follow-ME Marlborough Events KBB Music Eventfinda NZ

08/08/2025

Head out to the Woody Woodbourne Tavern & Motels tonight for one of our last Southern Jam public venue performances 7 - 9pm! Don't forget our Finale Gala Concert tomorrow Sat 7pm where the audience will see all the participating bands, The All Stars Band and our Judges. Still a few tickets available from ASB Theatre Marlborough or Eventfinda NZ Marlborough, New Zealand Marlborough District Council Follow-ME Marlborough Events

07/08/2025

Southern Jam is on now until August 9, and among the talented young musicians taking the stage is 16-year-old Marlborough drummer Bronson Blissett, whose passion and versatility are making him one to watch.
https://marlboroughapp.co.nz/news/articles/beats-brass-and-big-dreams

07/08/2025

One of this evenings public performances from Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival 2025

SOUTHERN JAM YOUTH JAZZ FESTIVAL! 🎷🎺

PERFORMING TONIGHT 7:30PM-9:30PM! 😁

COME ON DOWN & SUPPORT! 🔥

07/08/2025

Cool vibes at The Good Home Marlborough from Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival 2025 with Rangiora High School

07/08/2025

Marlborough Library Southern Jam performance from Marlborough Boys College!