The tour band, comprising students from Years 8 to 12, spent eight days performing, participating in workshops and attending Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival performances. The band performed at Scotch College and Lauriston Girls’ School where they were surprised by the lack of girls wanting to play drums, in stark contrast to the high number of drummers at Christ Church. Director of Music Kevin Gillam said the experience had made the boys realise the high standard of jazz music at Christ Church.  

The boys also visited Bennetts Lane Jazz Club where they participated in a workshop with the club’s Jazz Trio and went behind the scenes at the Melbourne Concert Hall on a guided tour. Mr Gillam said the boys were “wowed” by the talent musicians on show at the festival and the club.

In between their music commitments, there was time to partake in a variety of cultural events and sights. These included a visit to the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Old Melbourne Goal, MCG, Eureka Tower and a games exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The boys sampled the fare of many cafes and restaurants, spent time exploring Fitzroy and St Kilda and even caught an AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs.