WATCH: You won’t want to miss this lineup of young jazz artists

• Jazz festival runs April 7 to 9 at Kelowna Community Theatre
• Event is an opportunity for students to perform live

After a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, the B.C Interior Jazz Festival is back this weekend at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and is planning to showcase some of the best jazz talent the area has to offer.

This will be the festival's 43rd year, and will feature professional artist Campbell Ryga, as well as up and coming jazz students.

Festival Coordinator, Chris Perry, told Kelowna10 it’s exciting for students to perform in a festival setting.

“This is a great opportunity for the students to hear professional musicians perform at such a great level,” Perry said.

Perry also noted it gives supporters of the jazz scene a chance to come out and hear some fantastic music.

Due to COVID restrictions, there can be no audience on April 7th for student performances, but on April 8th and 9th, the doors will be open for members of the public.

“We have groups all the way from, our youngest performer I believe is in grade 6, and all the way up to some grade 12 students as well,” Perry said. However, the pandemic has made it very challenging to organize the festival.

“We still didn’t know, up until about a month and a half ago, whether or not we’d be able to make this festival run in the way that we’re running it this year,” he said.

Assistant Coordinator and Okanagan Mission Secondary school (OKM) teacher, Megan Frederick, said COVID has made it extremely challenging for anything in the performing arts.

“As musicians, obviously we want to share our creation, and our love, and passion for what we’re doing, and so to not have that ability to get our music out there has been really tricky,” Frederick said.

She added how excited the student performers are to get back on stage.

“I don't know if I can overstate how excited we are to get on stage and perform for a live audience, because there’s nothing better,” she said. “I hope the community can get out and support it and see these kids because they’re amazing.”

OKM music student, Linus Luo, plays saxophone as well as the keyboard.

“Very excited to play live again. I think the last time I played live was maybe in grade 9, like as a www.selectyourtickets.com.band. I feel like COVID has really robbed me of my high school experience.”

Student drummer, Gabriel Widing, swapped over to jazz music from rock and metal music.

“It’s a whole different thing to learn, and it’s super fun to get into it and learn all about it,” Widing said.

For jazz student and alto saxophone player, Kieron Davis, COVID-19 has given him the opportunity to do more listening, making it his favorite part about jazz.

“It feels like we missed out on a lot of live stuff… but other than that, I got a lot more into listening. I feel like a lot of people did, and [it] really expanded my actual perspective when it comes to jazz,” Davis said.

Tickets are $5 at the door for student performances on April 8th and 9th. There will also be a student showcase concert on Saturday April 9th, and tickets will be $10 at the door.

For tickets to the Jazz Artists’ Showcase Concert featuring Campbell Ryga on April 8th, go to www.selectyourtickets.com