Instrumental Music profiles
CLAIRE OLIVER Big Band, Saxophone Claire Oliver grew up with a passion for music, learning recorder, clarinet, saxophone, organ, electric bass, and double bass. She has been teaching instrumental music since 1993, and working at
ANTONIO DIMITROV Brass Antonio Dimitrov was born and educated in Bulgaria and completed his Masters of Music degree specialising in
French horn for which he was awarded Distinction. He is a regular member of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and teaches horn and brass in several Christchurch schools.
Christ’s College since 2010, where she is the Director of Big Band, the Saxophone Quartet, and the Jazz Combo, as well as providing private tutoring on saxophone, clarinet, and bass. In recent years, Claire has also worked with Year 9 music classes. Claire has played double bass and clarinet in orchestras, and saxophone in symphonic bands and big bands, as well as being involved in musical theatre. Claire prepares the groups she directs for various secondary school-level music competitions, including the annual Chamber Music Contest, Southern Jam Jazz Festival, CPIT Jazz Quest, and the NZSM High Schools Jazz Festival. The College Big Band and Jazz Combo have repeatedly won silver and gold awards at these events, including – at Southern Jam – accolades such as Best Big Band in 2010, Overall Festival Winner in 2011, and runner-up Big Band in 2015.
GREG DONALDSON Drums Greg Donaldson is a Christchurch-based session drummer and drum teacher who has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He has also toured New Zealand, Australia, and Japan with
Hayley Westenra, and toured New Zealand, Australia, China, and Singapore with English singer Elaine Paige. Greg can be heard on Bic Runga’s Live in Concert and Try to Remember Everything CDs, Hayley Westenra’s Live from New Zealand DVD, and Hayley Sings Japanese Songs 2 CD, Mandy Pickering’s self-titled album and The Dukes’ Lil’ Sunshine . He has performed live with Dave Dobbyn, Anika Moa, Julia Deans, Malcolm McNeill, Petula Clark, and Renee Geyer. He has also performed for former American president Bill Clinton. Greg holds a Diploma of Jazz Studies from CPIT (Ara Music Arts).
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