Five hundred musicians will converge on Merimbula for its 44th jazz festival. Photo: Brent Occleshaw.
When Lucas Schembri went to the Merimbula Jazz Festival as a Year 10 student trumpet player, he had no idea the impact it would have on his career trajectory or on his students in outback NSW 12 years later.
This year he is bringing 16 students from Lightning Ridge Central School to the festival. “We don’t get much live music in Lightning Ridge and for some it will be the first time they see the beach and hear professional musicians,” Mr Schembri said.
He attended the jazz festival in 2014, 2015 and 2016 while attending Sydney’s prestigious The King’s School. He went on to study music education at The University of Sydney’s Sydney Conservatorium of Music. After graduating with honours in 2020 he headed to Lightning Ridge in 2021.
“I was very privileged to get those sorts of opportunities at The King’s School,” he said. “When I came up to Lightning Ridge I wanted to try to develop a music program that was like those at more well-resourced schools.”
Bringing the students 1000 km to the Merimbula Jazz Festival is part of the program.
In 2022 he brought eight students from Years 9 and 10 to the festival. “They were gobsmacked,” he said. “All eight fell in love with jazz and chose music in Years 11 and 12.”
In 2023 he brought 12 students, some who went to the festival in 2022, and some newcomers.
“All of them chose music in Years 11 and 12 and we got some of the best HSC results in the school – Band 5,” Mr Schembri said.
Lightning Ridge music students rehearsing. Photo: Supplied.
Some of those students have gone on to study teaching music, just as Mr Schembri did.
What is different at the 2026 Merimbula Jazz Festival is that his students will be participating, with some entering the Jazz Quest, part of the festival’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent.
Others will join young musicians from across the Bega Valley in a special youth workshop hosted by the Royal Australian Navy Big Band, which includes some of Australia’s finest military musicians.
“That makes me very happy that this year we are having musical representation from Lightning Ridge,” Mr Schembri said.
None of the students had any musical background before he started his music program at the school.
“We have Year 8 kids who have been playing for three years performing at their first event. It is musical growth,” he said.
The students are in Years 6 to 10. Some have been playing their instruments for four years. Others have only a year’s experience.
“The experience is incredibly valuable, providing students and staff with the opportunity to engage with live music at a high level, connect with other musicians, and immerse themselves in a vibrant musical community,” Mr Schembri said. “For many students, this will be their first experience of live jazz at this level, making it a particularly exciting and memorable opportunity.”
The Royal Australian Navy Big Band from Sydney will be performing at the Merimbula Jazz Festival. Photo: Brent Occleshaw.
More than 500 musicians in 100 bands will gather in Merimbula over the King’s Birthday long weekend from 5 to 8 June, for four days of music, workshops and performances across eight walkable venues.
Now in its 44th year, it is one of Australia’s longest-running jazz festivals. Every style of jazz will be showcased, from big band, swing and mainstream jazz to funk, fusion, traditional jazz and ragtime.
This year it will have an international act, the Alexandra Ivanova Trio. The trio is currently touring in Asia and wanted to be part of the Merimbula event.
Also programmed are the Royal Australian Navy Big Band and the Royal Australian Navy New Orleans Band from Sydney, along with the Australian Defence Force Academy Jazz Band from Canberra.
With support from Community Bank Pambula and Bega, the Jazz Quest has $5000 in prize money. Some of the brightest young musicians under 25 perform alongside experienced players in a heady mix of fusion, traditional and contemporary jazz.
Merimbula Jazz Festival president Denise Dion said it was always one of the most popular and well-attended parts of the festival, with people coming from as far afield as the Melbourne and Gippsland region, Canberra and Queanbeyan districts, and Sydney.
Festival workshops include gospel and swing jazz vocal sessions, with participants invited to perform at the opening ceremony on 6 June and the ecumenical service at St Joseph’s Catholic Church on 7 June.
The festival concludes with the traditional jazz party on 8 June, closing off another vibrant celebration of music, community and creativity on the Sapphire Coast.
The Merimbula Jazz Festival runs from 5-8 June across multiple venues. To see the full program or find out more, head to their website.
Original Article published by Marion Williams on About Regional.
