New Zealand School of Music support for StarJam concert

The New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) has a special involvement in the StarJam 'All You Need Is Love' show at St James Theatre, Wellington on Friday 11 November.

The concert is part of the first-ever musical collaboration of its kind between super-charity StarJam, Vector Wellington Orchestra, NZSM Senior Lecturer and composer Stephan Prock and Te Koki, New Zealand School of Music.

The show's cast includes 50 young people with disabilities (known as Jammers) and veteran performer Ray Woolf as well as the Vector Wellington Orchestra. Marc Taddei is conducting the orchestra in Stephan Prock's "Open Waters", a specially composed piece in which Jammers perform cameo roles.

The NZSM has further involvement, with Dr Daphne Rickson is including the StarJam rehearsal and performance process in her research within the NZSM Music Therapy Department.

For all of the Jammers this will be their first performance in a live professional show.

StarJam CEO and Founder Julie Bartlett has produced and directed 12 similar shows since StarJam started in 2002.

"The kids always exceed our expectations and often their own, but it’s the audience members who feel it most, they are inspired by the courage of those kids on stage" says Bartlett.

This show is one of three in November; the Auckland show is on Saturday 19th and the Hamilton show on Saturday 26th.

Tickets are available from Ticketek and range from $10 to $60. Proceeds go directly to StarJam.

Background Information on StarJam

StarJam is a super-charity which creates national and international limelight opportunities for young people with disabilities. Known as "Jammers", StarJam kids gain respect, confidence, empowerment, new friends, new hope and new purpose within a fun and inclusive atmosphere.There are 24 performance workshop programmes spread throughout Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington each week in song, dance, percussion and guitar. www.starjam.org