Gisborne musician Riki Reedy playing the double bass in the NYJC Big Band at the 48th National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga.
Gisborne musician Riki Reedy playing the double bass in the NYJC Big Band at the 48th National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga.
Gisborne teenager Rikipapaki “Riki” Reedy’s musical career reached a new high when he was selected to play double bass for the 2026 NYJC Big Band at the 48th National Youth Jazz Competition.
The Big Band is made up of secondary school jazz musicians, who were selected after submitting avideo audition ahead of the competition.
Riki’s audition piece was Count Bubba - a complex contemporary big band arrangement by the late US musician and composer Gordon Goodwin.
“It was a complicated piece of music and I was excited to be chosen,” the Year 13 student at Gisborne Boys’ High School said.
The competition received 92 registrations to audition from 35 secondary schools across Aotearoa.
NYJC Big Band director Paul Norman managed the auditions and selections for the 2026 Big Band.
This year’s Big Band programme included a selection of compositions by Grammy Award-winning Gordon Goodwin as a tribute following his death in Los Angeles in December.
“Once I was chosen, I was given another four pieces of music to practise before going to Tauranga,” Riki said.
The Big Band comprised 22 musicians who had three rehearsals together before giving a final concert performance, which was met with rapturous applause.
The NYJC is an annual event showcasing New Zealand’s top secondary school jazz talent. Representatives from schools across the country compete in various categories.
The 2026 event ran over three days at the Baycourt Community & Arts Centre in Tauranga and featured the competition, workshops and performances.
Riki, who learns the double bass from Scott Maynard in Gisborne, also plays cello and the electric bass.
“The cello is my main instrument,” he said. “I learn on Zoom from Robert Ibell.”
To listen to the 2026 NYJC Big Band, go to the livestream at nationalyouthjazz.org.nz.
Riki Reedy, a Year 13 student at Gisborne Boys' High School, was one of 22 musicians selected for the the 2026 NYJC Big Band at the National Youth Jazz Competition.
