The Queenstown Jazz Orchestra has practised hard during the past four months to perfect its repertoire of 15 jazz and swing classics for the Earnslaw Park concerts.
The orchestra's 16 members come from throughout Otago and as far afield as New York.
"They're used to pressure and it brings out the best in you," Arrowtown musician Peter Doyle said yesterday.
Wakatipu musicians were recruited for annual Showbiz Queenstown productions and the idea of assembling a big band had been talked about for a decade.
However, the catalyst was this year's production of the Elvis Presley-inspired musical All Shook Up, which called for a larger brass section.
Mentored by Dunedin jazz identity Calder Prescott, the band plays faithful versions and rearrangements of standards made popular by Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Buble and others.
At least four female Wakatipu singers are being auditioned to see which one best fits with the band. She will debut in JazzFest and the search for a male singer would begin later.
After JazzFest, the band is to play at a community ball in November and will be available for further community and conference functions, Mr Doyle said.
"We're doing this to have fun and to give the community a big band because there's never been one here. The third thing is to get young people to come into our band and learn our style of music."
