My name is Kyra Dunstan and I am a Year 13 student at Warwick Academy. This year I am the student leader of Music for the school. I represent the Music Department, under the leadership of Mr Hayward, in weekly meetings with other student leaders and Senior Management members at the school, including Mr Horan (Head of Secondary) and Mrs McCorkell (Principal of Warwick Academy).

I have been a member of the Music Department since Year Seven. I am one of the lead saxophonists for the WA Jazz Band and the only female saxophone player in the band.

Jazz Band has taught me a lot during the last three years but what I find most valuable is my freedom to express myself through the music. Jazz is a very soulful and emotional genre of music allowing me to express myself and capture the audience by making them feel my emotions through my instrument.

Along with Jazz we are often exposed to a wide variety of other genres including funk, rock, Latin, ballads, etc which all have different emotive qualities and are very intricate styles.

Life in the Jazz Band is not as easy as being able to handle your instrument though. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in order for us to provide our audiences with the best and most entertaining show possible. We rehearse for two hours every Friday night.

Much appreciation must be given to Mr Hayward for the amount of time that he dedicates to helping us succeed. He works especially hard to book us gigs around the island, something that is very rewarding and unique to the Jazz Band at Warwick Academy.

We are the public representatives of both the Music Department and the school.

Through my years I have been fortunate to play at corporate social events, anniversary parties, festivals and the list goes on. It is a great way to gain exposure to performing on a level much higher than that of a normal high school band.

However probably the most special event for us as members of the Jazz Band is our Gala Event. This takes place annually in February with it being held this month on Saturday the 21st.

This event is our most important event as it is a sort of celebration of all our hard work.

It also gives us the opportunity to play alongside well-known musicians from away who provide us with impactful advice for improving our technique and quality as a band. The pressure is increased immensely when Gala time rolls around. We have extra or longer rehearsals and it is vital that we work together as a band because we want to give ourselves the best reputation we can.

In the weeks leading up to the Gala we all have to put a lot more effort into practicing, perfecting our tone and rhythms so that we put on a great show. All the hard work is worth it in the end when we take to the stage and see the audience enjoying themselves and dancing the night away. I have been truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group of young people and it saddens me to think this will be the last time I get to have this experience with them.