The annual NZSM Jazz Project (formerly known as the NZSM Jazz Festival) provides multiple opportunities for student and audiences to experience Jazz music making at the highest levels.

The staff and senior students of the NZSM Jazz Programme work alongside international visiting guest artists resulting in performances in a number of venues including an evening concert as part of the Wellington Jazz Festival.

The event also incorporates an educational outreach to New Zealand Secondary School Jazz Bands and Combos providing performance, workshop and competition opportunities to support and inspire both the next generation of Jazz musicians, and their band directors and teachers. There are two performance categories for groups in the Jazz Project:

Big Band Competition – minimum of 10 musicians, maximum of 22 musicians
Jazz Combo Competition – minimum of 3 musicians, maximum of 9 musicians

Previously NZSM Jazz Project has had a partnership with the Wellington Jazz Festival, which takes place at the same time. Jazz Project participants are offered opportunities for specially priced student and teacher tickets for headliner acts in the festival.

Watch a short video of the NZSM Jazz Project in 2016 here.