Festival Sets Precedent For Bright Future

20 April 2004

Festival Sets Precedent For Bright Future

Montana Christchurch International Jazz Festival Wednesday, 30 March – Sunday, 10 April 2005

If capacity crowds and sell out shows are any indication then this year’s Montana Christchurch International Jazz Festival hit an harmonious chord with a wide audience and suggests that the Festival’s future is very bright.

“Our new annual slot gives us access to a greater range of international talent and enlivens the City’s autumn calendar”, says Austin Forbes, QC, Chair Montana Christchurch International Jazz Festival Trust. “We couldn’t have made such a hit this year without the community’s sterling support”.

Total attendance during the 11 day event, the Festival’s first on the annual calendar, topped 30,000. The most popular and highly attended events were Jazz Alley and Jazz in the Hall, the Festival’s international show series.

“We’re pleased with the success we’ve achieved with new venues and programmes”, says Jodi Wright, Director of the Montana Christchurch International Jazz Festival. “We’ve received very positive feedback on the range of performances both in terms of their calibre and style”.

Research results from a survey undertaken by the Christchurch City Council during the Festival will be available later this season and provide useful input towards the next event.

About the Festival

The next Montana Christchurch International Jazz Festival will be staged from Thursday, 20 to Sunday, 30 April, 2006.

Begun in 1998 as a biennial event, the Festival is now presented annually and deemed the largest and most extensive jazz festival in New Zealand. The event comprises more than 100 national and international jazz artists performing at a variety of venues in the Christchurch region. The Festival is core funded by the Christchurch City Council and receives donations from a range of other in-kind, contra and financial supporters.

ENDS

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