Major coup for '26 festival

One of the most recognisable faces in Australian jazz will again be part of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues next year. As organisers look beyond their successful staging of the 35th festival on the weekend, they have been buoyed by news that James Morrison will return to the rural city in 2026, to play with the Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra (WSO). The concert will be the feature performance at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre during next year's festival, in an exciting and challenging venture for the orchestra. The collaboration came about following a sellout performance at the 2024 festival, where the orchestra played with local jazz band The Daisies in Holy Trinity Cathedral. WSO conductor Aaron Wardle sent a tape of the concert to James Morrison, inviting him to play with the orchestra in 2026, and he agreed. "I've been in contact with James Morrison's team for a few years about the possibility of him performing with us, so it was an incredible thrill to hear that he'll be joining us to headline the jazz festival next year," he said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the orchestra to collaborate with such a world-class musician. "Having someone of James' calibre involved not only brings great momentum and credibility to the new festival team, but also offers our musicians an unforgettable musical experience - that's what drives us, creating those moments of magic through live performance." The James Morrison Quartet has played with many famous orchestras internationally, including the London Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Australian Pops Orchestra and Great Barrier Reef Orchestra. WSO president Ron Webb said he was delighted that the Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra was able to announce the joint concert, saying it was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for the local orchestra to engage with an internationally-renowned musician. Mr Webb also acknowledged the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues committee, which had supported the initiative by allowing the orchestra to play in the prime Saturday night WPACC timeslot of the 2026 festival on Saturday, 31 October. Wendie Wilkie, secretary of WSO and a violinist, said it was an amazing opportunity for the orchestra, and an exciting challenge for the members. "It is an affirmation of how far we have come as an orchestra in just five years, and will certainly stretch and lift us as an orchestra," she said. "We will enjoy the challenge and the extra learning and practice." The James Morrison Quartet is one of the world's most in demand jazz ensembles. Featuring Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison, the group has taken the international music scene by storm, performing at major festivals such as BBC Proms with superstar Dianne Reeves, Melbourne International Jazz Festival with Patti Austin and at famous jazz venues including Ronnie Scott's in London. Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues chair Andrew Nunn said the announcement was "a fantastic coup". "James Morrison is an icon of Australian jazz, and his presence helps develop our cred as a festival," he said.

Major coup for '26 festival

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