Generations In Jazz
Generations In Jazz is an annual weekend jazz festival held in Mount Gambier, South Australia. It is held in May and brings together many young jazz musicians from all over Australia and New Zealand.
History
The Generations in Jazz Festival was first held in 1987. The festival's genesis dates from 1982 when three young musicians performed a tribute for their fathers and grandfathers. Nowadays, an estimated 5,200 young people in bands from all around Australia and New Zealand make their way to Mount Gambier. Professional musicians who have taught, performed or judged at the festival include James Morrison, Daryl Somers, Ross Irwin, James Muller, Wycliffe Gordon, Graeme Lyall, Gordon Goodwin and his Big Phat Band, Take 6, and Jeff Clayton.The World's Largest Modular Tent
The World's Largest Modular Tent is the home of an annual event held in Mount Gambier, South Australia, from May 1 to May 3, 2020. The tent is approximately 64 metres wide and 84 metres long, reaching heights of up to 25 metres; it requires a crew of up to 18 people to assemble it and can hold up to 11,000 people. Generations in Jazz is hosted by James Morrison.Each year, James invites guest artists to perform in a variety of concerts held in the tent.
The event sees about 5200 students performing each year and 200 buses transport them to and from the venue.
While the World's Largest Modular Tent supplies seating for the concerts and division 1 performances, there are a variety of other, smaller tents that hold performances and cater for food.
Adjudicators are often on stage during one or more of the concerts held in the World's Largest Modular Tent and they compose the set piece for each division to play.
Awards and scholarships
James Morrison Jazz Scholarship
The 'James Morrison Jazz Scholarship' is open to solo instrumentalists. Six finalists are judged during the Generations In Jazz weekend. The winner receives $10,000 to assist in the development of their career.Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship
The winner will receive $10,000 to assist in the development of their career.City of Mt. Gambier National Big Bands
The Big Band part of the festival invites secondary school big bands from around Australia and New Zealand to compete for prize money of up to $7000. Bands compete for prize money in one of four divisions and stand-out musicians can be rewarded with a place in their division's "Superband". Several improvising musicians in Division 1 are nominated as potential "Future Finalists" of the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship, and one is selected to win $3,500 to assist their musical education. Divisions 1 and 2 superbands and future finalists all play at the Festival Finale. Division 5 bands are adjudicated only, though one band is selected to win an encouragement award.James Morrison Academy of Music
The James Morrison Academy of Music was a Jazz Performance course run by Graeme Lyall catering to young musicians. It was run in Mount Gambier, South Australia, and offered a one-year Diploma of Music through its affiliation with the University of South Australia. The course covered aural, theory, arranging and improvisation. All students rehearsed together as a large ensemble for 90 minutes, Monday to Friday. The ensemble had the opportunity to play with James Morrison at the Generations in Jazz Festival. In 2015 the academy moved into the Old Town Hall in Mt. Gambier.The academy had its final teaching year in 2021, since opting to operate as a 'pop-up' academy. The closure is speculated to be due to a lack of funding and public displeasure over James Morrison's support of a sexual assault perpetrator.
2020 Cancellation
The 2020 Generations in Jazz competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In a statement released on 13 March, the board outlined their reasoning and their disappointment at having to cancel the event. "Of paramount importance to the Board is the safety and welfare of both the participants and the local community. The Board cannot offer any certainty to deliver the level of Risk management actions required to protect all involved under these current circumstances. It is a very disappointing time for all and we acknowledge the work and dedication of the students, Music Directors and auxilliary support."The competition was also cancelled in 2021.
2023 return
The competition returned in 2023 following the pandemic. Dirty Loops performed at the event.Government-Funded Permanent Pavilions
In 2025, The South Australian Government invested $720,000 to build four permanent pavilions at OB Flat, Mount Gambier. These pavilions are projected to save $100,000 annually on event costs and generate $150,000 per year from storage fees. The savings and revenue will be reinvested in the festival, boosting participation and growth. The 2025 Festival was headlined by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.Results and history
2025| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | St Peter's College | Marryatville High School | Viewbank College |
| 2.1 | Chatswood High School & Anglican Church Grammar School | Rostrevor College | Immanuel College |
| 2.2 | Concordia College | Westminster School | St Peter's College |
| 3.1 | St Peter's Girls' School | Scotch College | St Andrews Christian College |
| 3.2 | Westbourne Grammar School | Wilderness School | Blackfriars Priory School |
| 4.1 | Nazareth Catholic College | Wilderness School | Adelaide Botanic High School |
| 4.2 | St Aloysius College | Parade College | Eltham High School |
| 4+ | Emmaus Christian College | Wesley / Penrhos College | Pedare Christian College |
| 5 | The Essington School | - | - |
| Vocal Div 1 Large | Wilderness School | St Peter's Girls' School | Wesley College |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | Wesley College | Donvale Christian College | Yarra Valley Grammar |
| Vocal Div 2 Large | Brighton Secondary School | St Aloysius College, Adelaide | Immanuel College |
| Vocal Div 2 Small | Scotch College | Temple Christian College | St Mary's College |
| Vocal Div 3 Small | Trinity College | St Leonard's College | Peninsula Grammar |
| Vocal Div 3.1 Large | Wesley College | Loreto Mandeville Hall | Saint Ignatius' College |
| Vocal Div 3.2 Large | Trinity College | St John's Grammar School | Brighton Grammar School |
| Small Jazz Combo 1 | Westminster School | Rostrevor College | Tenison Woods College |
| Small Jazz Combo 2 | Genazzano FCJ College | Prince Alfred College | Westbourne Grammar School |
| Small Jazz Combo 3 | Concordia College | Yarra Valley Grammar | Hobart College |
2024
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | St Peter's College | Marryatville High School | St Leonard's College |
| 2.1 | Westminster School | Peninsula Grammar | Carey Baptist Grammar School |
| 2.2 | Immanuel College | Concordia College | Eltham High School |
| 3.1 | Aquinas College | Caufield Grammar School - Caufield Campus | Prince Alfred College |
| 3.2 | Ballarat Clarendon College | Trinity College | Brighton Secondary School |
| 4.1 | St Martin's Lutheran College | Carey Baptist Grammar School | St Kevin's College |
| 4.2 | Genazzano FCJ College | Xavier College | Anglican Church Grammar School |
| 4+ | Castlemaine Secondary College | Pedare Christian College | Mazenod College |
| Vocal Div 1 Large | Wilderness School | Concordia College | Loreto College |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | Wesley College | Ruyton Girls' School | Yarra Valley Grammar |
| Vocal Div 2 Large | Wilderness School | Pulteney Grammar School | Brighton Secondary School |
| Vocal Div 2 Small | Peninsula Grammar | Temple Christian College | Loreto College |
| Vocal Div 3 Large | St Aloysius College | Marryatville High School | Brighton Secondary School |
| Vocal Div 3 Small | Playford International College | Temple Christian College | St Andrews Christian College |
| Small Jazz Combo 1 | Peninsula Grammar | St Andrews Christian College | Temple Christian College |
| Small Jazz Combo 2 | Wesley College, Perth | Donvale Christian College | Woodville High School |
| Small Jazz Combo 3 | Viewbank College | Westbourne Grammar School | Blackburn High School |
2023
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Marryatville High School | Prince Alfred College | St Peters College |
| 2 | Balwyn High School | Xavier College | Marryatville High School |
| 3.1 | Peninsula Grammar | Elizabeth College | St Mary's College |
| 3.2 | Hobart College | St Leonard's College | Prince Alfred College |
| 4.1 | Aquinas College | Westbourne Grammar | Christian Brothers College |
| 4.2 | Nazareth Catholic College | Trinity College | Wilderness School |
| 4+ | Pedare Christian College | Walford Anglican School For Girls | Ballarat Clarendon College |
| Small Jazz Combo 1 | Peninsula Grammar | Carey Baptist College | Brighton Secondary School |
| Small Jazz Combo 2 | Hobart College | Trinity Grammar School | St Peters Girls' School |
| Vocal Div 1 Large | St Peters Girls' School | Concordia College | Marryatville High School |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | Wesley College - St Kilda Road Campus and Loreto College | Geelong Grammar | |
| Vocal Div 2 Large | Donvale Christian College | Walford Anglican School for Girls | Seymour College |
| Vocal Div 3 Large | Wesley College - St Kilda Road Campus | Loreto College | Marryatville High School |
| Vocal Open Small | St Peter's Girls' School | Donvale Christian College | St Mary's College |
2022
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Marryatville High School and St Leonard's College | St Peter's College | John Paul College |
| 2 | Marryatville High School | Walford Anglican School for Girls and St Michael's Grammar School | Westminster School |
| 3 | Peninsula Grammar | Ringwood Secondary College | Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School |
| 4 | St Peter's College | St Peter's Girls' School | Trinity College South Australia |
| 4+ | Rockhampton Grammar School | Tenison Woods College Mount Gambier | Glenunga International High School |
| Jazz Combo | Wesley College | Emmaus Christian College | Thomas Hassall Anglican College and Mentone Grammar School |
| Vocal Div 1 Large SSAA | Wilderness School | Sheldon College | Walford Anglican School for Girls |
| Vocal Div 1 Large SATB | Marryatville High School | Wesley College | John Paul College |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | Wesley College | St Peter's College | Aquinas College |
| Vocal Div 2 SSA | Wilderness School | St Monica's College and Westminster School | |
| Vocal Div 2 SAB | Marryatville High School | Nazareth Catholic College | Temple Christian College |
| Vocal Div 2 TTB | Anglican Church Grammar School | ||
| Vocal Div 3 Treble | St Alysious | Wesley College | Korowa Anglican Girls School |
| Vocal Div 3 Mixed | Marryatville High School | Ringwood Secondary College | St Francis de Sales College Mount Barker |
| Vocal Div 3 Male | St Peter's College | Christian Brothers College | Rostrevor College |
| Vocal Open Small | St Peter's Girls' School | St Mary's College | Tenison Woods College Mount Gambier |
2019
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Prince Alfred College | Blackburn High School | St Leonard's College |
| 2.1 | Palmerston North Boys' High | Blackburn High School | Ringwood Secondary College |
| 2.2 | Balwyn High School | Concordia College | St Mary's College |
| 3.1 | Genazzano FCJ College | Lowther Hall Anglican & St Peter's Girls' School | Balwyn High School |
| 3.2 | Siena College | Kirrawee High School | Blackfriars Priory School |
| 4.1 | Mentone Grammar | Wilderness School | John Monash Science School & St Michael's College |
| 4.2 | Temple Christian College | Walford Anglican School for Girls | Blackburn High School |
| 4.3 | Our Lady of Sion College | Parkdale Secondary College | Killester College |
| 4 Mixed | Melbourne Girls' College | St Paul's College | Tenison Woods College |
| Vocal Div 1 Large | Marryatville High School | Walford Anglican School for Girls | Princes Hill Secondary College |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School | Caulfield Grammar | Aquinas College |
| Vocal Open Small | St Peter's Girls' School | Temple Christian College | Donvale Christian College |
| Vocal Div 2 | St Peter's Girls' School | St Leonard's College | Immanuel College |
| Vocal Div 3.1 | Nazareth Catholic Community College | Immanuel College | Wantirna College |
| Vocal Div 3.2 | Toorak College | Wilderness School & Princes Hill Secondary College | Pedare Christian College |
| Vocal Div 4 | Albert Park College | St Martins Lutheran College & Carey Baptist College | Scotch College & St Bede's College |
| Small Jazz Combo Div 1.1 | Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School | Camberwell High School | Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School |
| Small Jazz Combo Div 1.2 | Concordia College | Blackburn High School | Brighton Secondary School |
2018
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Marryatville High School | Blackburn High School | St Leonard's College |
| 2.1 | St Peter's College & Caulfield Grammar School | - | Concordia College |
| 2.2 | Balwyn High School | Westminster School | Rostrevor College |
| 3.1 | Scotch College | Peninsula Grammar | Eltham High School |
| 3.2 | St Helena Secondary College | Lowther Hall Anglican | Scotch College |
| 4.1 | Macleod College | Our Lady of Sion College | Rostrevor College |
| 4.2 | St Helena Secondary College | Blackburn High School | Glenunga International High School |
| 4.3 | Killester College | Mount Waverley Secondary College | St Columba’s College |
| 4 Mixed | Waverley Christian College | Albert Park College | Macleod College |
| Vocal Div 1 Large | Marryatville High School | Walford Anglican Girls | Immanuel College & Wilderness School |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | Aquinas College | Marryatville High School | Caulfield Grammar School |
| Vocal Div 2 | Marryatville High School | Saint Ignatius College | St Mary's College |
| Vocal Div 3 | St John's Grammar School | Pulteney Grammar School | Aquinas College |
| Vocal Div 4 | St Bede’s College | Williamstown High School | Whitefriars College |
| Small Jazz Combo Div 1 | Marryatville High School | Balwyn High School | Waverley Christian College |
| Small Jazz Combo Div 2 | Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School | Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School | Carey Baptist College |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Sax Section Award | Balwyn High School |
| James Morrison Jazz Scholarship | Jayden Blockley |
| GIJ Vocal Scholarship | Stephanie Russell |
| Pat Corrigan Future Finalist Award | Thomas Levings |
| Ron Denning Award | Jazzie Vanua Phoebe Bengough Lily Seymour Imogen Spendlove |
| Alexander Gregory Piano Award | Marco Callisto |
| Wenger Band Directors Award | Philip Walsh |
| Golden Mouthpiece Award | Emma Simpson-Smith |
| Bach Trombone Award | Siena College |
| Yamaha Drums & Winston Music Drummers Award | Alex Whaley |
| Yamaha Drums & Winston Music Drummers Award | Jacob Bellingham |
2017
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Blackburn High School | Marryatville High School | Eltham High School |
| 2.1 | Wesley College | St Peter's College | Prince Alfred College |
| 2.2 | Scotch College | Westminster School | St Kevin's College |
| 3.1 | Eltham High School | Concordia College | Carey Baptist Grammar School |
| 3.2 | Elizabeth College | Peninsula Grammar | The Geelong College |
| 4.1 | Temple Christian College | John Monash Science School | St Michael's Grammar School |
| 4.2 | Waverley Christian College | The Knox School | Ruyton Girls' School |
| 4 Mixed | St Paul’s College | Glenunga International | Prince Alfred College |
| Vocal Div 1 Large | Immanuel College | Wilderness School | Marryatville High School |
| Vocal Div 1 Small | St Peter's Girls' School | Princes Hill Secondary College | Ruyton Girls' School |
| Vocal Div 2 | St Peter's Girls' School | Wesley College | Marryatville High School |
| Vocal Div 3 | Aquinas College | Ruyton Girls' School | Viewbank College |
| Vocal Div 4 | Waverley Christian College | Ruyton Girls' School | Parkdale Secondary |
| Small Jazz Combo | Marryatville High School | Balwyn High School | Princes Hill Secondary College |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Sax Section Award | Manly Selective Campus |
| James Morrison Jazz Scholarship | Flora Carbo |
| GIJ Vocal Scholarship | Amelia Evans |
| Blanchard Award | Emily Gittins Charlie Lodge Tom McCracken |
| Pat Corrigan Future Finalist Award | Callum Mintzis |
| Ron Denning Award | Sarah Brownridge Jazmine Vanua Izzy Norman |
| Alexander Gregory Piano Award | Marco Callisto Brad Bellard |
| Wenger Band Directors Award | Mat Noble |
| Golden Mouthpiece Award | Alistair Hardie |
| P-Bone Trombone Award | Elizabeth College |
| Yamaha Drums & Winston Music Drummers Award | Nicholas Costa |
2016
| Award | Recipient |
| GIJ Vocal Scholarship | Kayleigh Pincott |
| James Morrison Jazz Scholarship | Matthew Nicholls |
2015
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 'Golden Mouthpiece' Award |
| 1 | Marryatville High School | Wesley College SKR | St Leonard's College & Blackburn High School | Wesley College SKR - Lead Trumpet |
| 2 | Marryatville High School | Concordia College | Christian College Geelong | - |
| 3.1 | Yarra Valley Grammar | Elizabeth College | St John's Grammar School | - |
| 3.2 | Eltham High School | Prince Alfred College | The Peninsula School | - |
| 4.1 | Shalom Catholic College | Immanuel College | Pedare Christian College | - |
| 4.2 | Wilderness School | St Columba’s College | St Monica's College | - |
2014
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Honorable Mentions |
| 1 | Blackburn High School | Marryatville High School | Northcote High School | - |
| 2 | Caulfield Grammar School | Marryatville High School | Prince Alfred College | - |
| 3.1 | Prince Alfred College | Marryatville High School | Eltham High School | - |
| 3.2 | Yarra Valley Grammar | Concordia College | Wilderness School | - |
| 4 | Prince Alfred College | Eltham High School | Bendigo SE Secondary College | - |
| Vocal Div 1 | Marryatville High School | St John's Grammar School | St. Mary's College | St John's Grammar School |
| Vocal Div 2 | Pembroke School | Marryatville High School | Immanuel College | - |
| Vocal Div 3 | St Michael's College | The Geelong College | Marymount College | - |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Perpetual Award | Balwyn High School |
| Schlager Music Directors Award | Nathaniel Poynter, Yarra Valley Grammar |
| James Morrison Jazz Scholarship | David Goodwin |
| James Morrison Golden Mouthpiece Award | Matthew Todd, Blackburn High School |
| City of Mt Gambier Vocal Scholarship | Olivia Chindamo |
2013
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Marryatville High School | Scotch College | Prince Alfred College, Eltham High School |
| 2 | Immanuel College | Balwyn High School | Marryatville High School |
| 3.1 | Trinity Grammar School | Loreto Mandeville Hall | The Geelong College |
| 3.2 | Scotch College | The Peninsula School | Lavalla Catholic College |
| 4 | Tenison Woods College | St Bernard's College | Yarra Valley Grammar |
| Vocal Div 1 | St. Mary's College | Wilderness School | Marryatville High School |
| Vocal Div 2 | Pembroke School | St Peter's Girls' School | Concordia College |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Perpetual Award | Concordia College |
| Schlager Music Directors Award | Leith Sutterd St John's Grammar School |
| James Morrison Jazz Scholarship | Oli Nelson |
| City of Mt Gambier Vocal Scholarship | Hannah Cameron |
2012
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Honorable Mentions |
| 1 | Marryatville High School | Scotch College | Blackburn High School | - |
| 2 | Orange High School | Immanuel College | St Leonards College | - |
| 3.1 | St Agnes Parish School | St John's Grammar School | Prince Alfred College | - |
| 3.2 | Prince Alfred College | Loreto Mandeville Hall | Scotch College | - |
| Vocal Div 1 | Princes Hill Secondary College | Marryatville High School | Wesley College, St Kilda | - |
| Vocal Div 2 | St Ignatius College | St John's Grammar School | Ringwood Secondary College | St John's Grammar School |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Perpetual Award | Concordia College |
| Winston Music & Schlager Music Directors Jazz Spirit Award | Alan Geddie - Riverland |
| James Morrison Jazz Scholarship | Chris Travaglini |
| City of Mt Gambier Vocal Scholarship | Liam Budge |
2011
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Honorable Mentions |
| 1 | Marryatville High School | Blackburn High School | Scotch College | |
| 2 | Orange High School | Immanuel College | St Leonards College | Prince Alfred College, Concordia College |
| 3.1 | Tenison Woods College | Trinity Grammar School | St John's Grammar School | |
| 3.2 | St Agnes Parish School | Loreto Mandeville Hall | Scotch College | Riverland Stage Band |
| Vocal | St Johns Grammar School | Princes Hill Secondary College | Wilderness School | - |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Perpetual Award | Concordia College |
| Yamaha Music Directors Jazz Spirit Award | Mat Duniam and Gemma Horbury |
| Pat Corrigan Musicians & Artists Fund | David Goodwin |
| GIJ Vocal Scholarship | Megan Crocombe |
2010
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Honorable Mentions |
| 1 | Wesley College, St Kilda | Blackburn High School | Scotch College | - |
| 2 | Blackburn High School | Wesley College, Glen Waverley | Marryatville High School | Immanuel College |
| 3.1 | Prince Alfred College | Rostrevor College | Immanuel College | - |
| 3.2 | Wesley College, Glen Waverley | The Geelong College | St. Aloysius College | - |
| Award | Recipient |
| Mauri Le Doeuff Perpetual Award | Yarra Valley Grammar |
| Yamaha Music Directors Award | Mary Robbie |
| James Morrison Jazz scholarship | Harry Sutherland |
| GIJ Vocal Scholarship | Kate Kelsey-Sugg |
2009
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Honorable Mentions |
| 1 | NSW Performing Arts Unit | Wesley College, St Kilda | Rostrevor College | - |
| 2 | Eltham High School | Marryatville High School | Scotch College | Blackburn High School |
| 3.1 | Blackburn High School | Riverland Stage Band | Brighton Secondary School | - |
| 3.2 | Yarra Valley Grammar | Faith Lutheran College | St Peter's College | - |
| Award | Recipient |
| James Morrison Jazz scholarship | Daniel Clohesy |
| GIJ Vocal Scholarship | Sarah McKenzie |