Verge Arts Festival 2018 presents ConVerge 2018!

Each year the ConVerge Jazz Festival gives students from the Sydney Conservatorium jazz program the opportunity to form groups and collaborate with an Australian musician of their choice. 

This year’s program is diverse as always, including local legends Cameron Undy, Ben Hauptmann, Sandy Evans, Cor Fuhler, Matilda Abrahams and James Greening. Come and hear the next generation of Australian improvisers play alongside their musical heroes in 4 amazing bands, plus an opening set from the Sydney University Jazz Society Big Band.

7pm
Jazz Society Big Band
Trumpets: Minho Lee, Owen Taverner, Sanjeev Desai, Ray Zhu
Trombones: Joshua Massingham, Stella Davy, Jacob Taranto
Saxophones: Tom Andrews, Alistair Milne, Sam Cheng, Chris Skellern, Michael Jardine
Drums/Piano/Guitar/Bass: Alex Baldwin-Clark, William Lind, Victor Zhu, Chris Cooper
Conductor: Justin Buckingham

7:50pm
Sandy Evans — Saxophone (Featured Artist) 
Oscar Eager — Trumpet (Leader)
Hinano Fujisaki — Alto Saxophone
Anthony Rositano — Tenor Saxophone
Matt Bell — Trombone
Steve Comninos — Piano
Adam Martinic — Bass
Abby Constable — Drums
"...a journey of diverse, relentless grooves, playing all original compositions inspired by the music of Latin America (Puerto Rico, Cuba, Chile, Argentina and Brazil) Also Artists and Music from Armenia and Iran."

8:40pm
Cor Fuhler — Piano (Featured Artist) 
Charlie Sundborn — Saxophone and Cornet (Co-Leader)
Nick Mielczarek — Guitar (Co-Leader)
Thomas Avgenicos — Trumpet
Kali Gillen — Saxophone and Clarinet
Hilary Geddes — Guitar
Harry Birch — Bass
Chloe Kim — Drums
"...Weaving through dark textures as well as nostalgic song-like structures, exploring the relationship between improvisation and pre-composition."

9:30pm
Matilda Abraham — Voice (Featured Artist) 
Kieren Brereton — Guitar (Leader)
Roshan Kumarage — Piano
David Quinn — Bass 
Ashley Stoneham — Drums
"...A suite of original
compositions written for voice and band. The music is set in a world where the earth has undergone extreme ecosystem
collapse."

10:20
James Greening (Featured Artist)
Ned Olive — Alto Saxophone (Leader)
Miles Rooney — Trumpet 
Jack Purdon — Trumpet 
Leo Larratt — Guitar
Lauren White — Upright Bass 
Kenta Sanada — Drums
"...Channeling the music of traditional balkan brass bands, this sextet will deliver a set of original music packed full of rhythmic drive, infectious energy, and brass."