Friendly Foe

Powerful playing by the musicians of tomorrow – two of Australia’s leading Jazz programs together on a single stage showcasing the future of Australian Jazz

An international debut – one of the worlds leading jazz composers, Florian Ross, has been commissioned by the festival to compose an extremely rare original work for Double Big Band

two shows for the price of one! – each Big Band will perform a short 20min set culminating in both bands on stage for the finale of ‘friendly foe’

The Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Studies course, the oldest and most prestigious in Australia, runs 4x Big Bands making it the largest Jazz Orchestral program in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world! The Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra is our flagship ensemble and our alumni includes a who’s who of Australian jazz luminaries, Freedman Fellows and National Jazz Prize winners and a healthy cohort of NY based alumni currently taking on the world. Led by Australian Jazz Legend and Big Band fanatic, David Theak, the SCJO repertoire list has been curated and meticulously rehearsed to present the hippest available repertoire including cutting edge originals by the worlds leading composers, time honoured classics and vocal led classics reworked in a contemporary way.   

The Melbourne University Big Band, directed by trumpeter and educator Mat Jodrell, is one of the flagship large jazz ensembles of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

The ensemble performs an expansive repertoire that spans the full history of big band music—drawing from classic swing traditions through to contemporary large‑ensemble jazz.

Their programs regularly feature works by seminal composers such as Maria Schneider, Thad Jones, Gil Evans, Jim McNeely, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bob Mintzer, John Clayton, and Bob Brookmeyer, alongside arrangements written by members of the Conservatorium community. 

As a reading‑focused ensemble, the Big Band places strong emphasis on sight‑reading, stylistic interpretation, and improvisation, frequently showcasing extended solos from its student performers. The ensemble is audition‑based and maintains a traditional big band lineup of five saxophones, five trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass, guitar, and drums, occasionally augmented by additional instruments or guest vocalists for special projects.

Their repertoire reflects both deep respect for big band lineage and a commitment to presenting the work of today’s most innovative large‑ensemble composers. 

Whether performing classic swing charts or contemporary compositions, the Melbourne University Big Band offers audiences a vibrant and expertly crafted celebration of large‑ensemble jazz.

Sydney Con Jazz Orchestra 1

Leo Marland (lead), Sam Leong, Noah Mejia , Edan Walker & Thomas Tyrell saxophones

Jim Schoeler (lead), Jupiter Lawson, Sam Kable, Flynn Poppelton, Sarah Todner trumpets

Tom Borbilas (lead), Rhys Moore, Wolf Kumaran-Eriksson, Charlie Liell trombones

Ruby Firmstone guitar

Freddie Stafford piano

Henry Hall bass

Finn Moore drums

Melbourne Uni Big Band

Mat Jodrell director

Jamie Holmes (lead), Harry Travis, Isaac Randel, Felix Reina-Henriksen & Natasha Lowe saxophones

Jules Broeren (co-lead), Yael Marks (co-lead), Hendrix Hamalainen, Reuben Strentz & Linda Cuzzi trumpets

Michael Stacey (lead), Rupert Humphris, Shalin Bigwood & Luke Adams trombones

Joshua MacDonald guitar

Charlie Rolfe piano

Evan Teece bass

James Caddie drums