"JUMPSTART" The AJ Hacket Bungy 2009 Winners Anounced

24 October 2009 12:00pm - 12:00pm

Emerging jazz stars from around New Zealand gave their all for the finals of ASB Queenstown JazzFest's Jumpstart national youth competitions over Labour Weekend.

Twenty-seven musicians aged between 12 and 25 showcased their talents at the JazzFest's Jumpstart competition in the AJ Hackett Bungy Youth Competition (12-17 years) and the NZONE Emerging Talent Competition (18-25 years).

Heats for the AJ Hackett Bungy Youth Competition were held at St Peter's Parish Hall on Saturday and the finalists - three bands, three solo vocalists and three solo instrumentalists - played to an appreciative audience at the Village Green on Sunday.

Two sixteen-year olds from Queenstown dominated the solo vocal section with Max Gunn singing his way to first place and $600 cash and runner-up Miki Brown taking home $200.

First place in the solo instrumental category was 17-year old guitarist Young Chan Kang from Christchurch who took home $600.  Second place and $200 went to the youngest finalist in the competition - 13-year old Harim Oh from Alexandra who wowed the crowds with his clarinet skills.

Hoodoo Voodoo from Dunedin emerged victorious in the battle of the bands, winning $1500 cash.  All contestants received a free AJ Hackett bungy jump.

The judges - Sue Patterson, a vocal teacher in Queenstown, and Karen Neill from the School of Rock - were delighted with the range of musical talent on show.