“Tonight, there’s something in the air,
As I stand upon the threshold of my life,
At the peak of everything.
I can’t explain the feeling,
Like a thousand dreams have come to life, they call to me,
All I have to do is live them…”

The Velvet Vocals performing at their inaugural concert.

Moana sings a beautiful rendition of ‘One Day’ by Kiwi band Op Shop

The cameras rolled up and the Jammers had a ball.

Dylan Levien and Freedom Harrison.

The cameras capture awesome acting.

As soon as we know when it will hit the TV screen, we will also let you know. Thanks to everyone at Great Southern TV for this opportunity and a great day.

Joshua Dainty was the first up in our new batch of heroes. Josh was nominated by Julie Bartlett for bravery and courage. He has done extremely well at school recently despite some big physical challenges and lots of changes in his life.

Josh receives his award from Matt & Dayna.

In 2007, Josh (bottom right) during the recording of Queen of Hearts.

Katrina Williams was ‘dobbed in’ by Jessie Harris. At the West Auckland Sensational Singing workshop, the Jammers bring along their favourite CDs for their solo and duet items. Katrina noticed that fellow Jammer, Matthew Brent-Jones, who recently joined the workshop, wasn’t bringing along any CDs. So she figured out what his favourite music was and following week brought along a CD of Matthew’s fave music for him. Her thoughtfulness was noticed…and very much appreciated.

Matt & Dayna congratulate a smiling Katrina.

Katrina in StarJam Rocks ‘05 (Picture by Patrick Bellett)

Daniel Gourlay nominated Callum Attwell for his courage to fly stunts in a tiny plane. It is true that many were envious of Callum winning this prize but they were put to the test during the awards presentation. We screened the video of the flight, which was shot by pilot Richard Hood. Everyone watching made loud ooooh and ahhhhh noises as the planed turned upside down and the land swapped places with the sky over and over. Fasten your seatbelt and watch the video here

Callum receives his Hero award from Matt & Dayna.

At Whangarei airport, pilot Richard Hood with his two ’suspects’, Mark and Callum.

Sheryl Takayama nominated volunteer, Janene Laughton. Janene has gone an extra hundered miles in providing support for the ‘Westie’ Singers who are a super-energetic and enthusiastic bunch of Jammers. This workshop is bursting at the seams and there have been more than a few tears shed when it comes to enrolment time each term and the places are all very quickly taken up.

Hugs all round as Janene receives her Hero award.

Janene lines up for her photo with Matt & Dayna.

Darryl Pascoe is that kind of guy who’s always in the right place at the right time. Darryl who is reliably there to set up what ever needs setting up and to pack it away afterwards, was nominated by Roy Bartlett. He’s a volunteer extraordinaire!

Darryl setting up drums at a rehearsal.

Darryl seems to enjoy the hugs for heroes too.

CoolJam Show Offs
This month we were treated to a brilliant ’show off’ by Central Groovy Guitars. They have achieved so much in a short time. Newest Groovy Guitarist Nicholas Leggat gave a performance of a song he has just written after joining the workshop only a few months ago. There was pin-drop silence as he started singing but then captured by the song, everyone started clapping along. He appeared very happy with his first ever performance. While a few people were wiping away tears, the Central Hip Hoppers took to the floow to show off their latest moves. Great stuff!

Groovy Guitarist, Nicholas Leggat after his solo.

The Central Hip Hoppers with their cool moves.

We have two great tutors for the new Velvet Vocals singing workshop. Jono Heaps, one of StarJam’s original “Jammers” who has already enjoyed an exciting array of jamming adventures, is very enthusiastic about leading this new group. Jono is StarJam’s youngest CoolJam workshop tutor.

Also tutoring this group with Jono, we have Joanie Bartels. Selling over 3 million albums, Joanie is USA’s top-selling singer and songwriter of children’s music. Jono and Joanie are discovering the immense combined talent of these Jammers, some who have been StarJam stars for several years and others new to the StarJam family. They aim to release their own song this year.

Jono Heaps with Jay Leno (during a Jamming trip in USA) and Joanie Bartels with Jammer Ashley Phillips

At the Velvet Vocals workshop, Bonnie Pascoe, Grace Lee, Isaac Toafa, Moana Mani, Gavin Allpress, Katie Nash, Natalie Te Paa, Jessica Wootton, Amy Wootton and Olivia Shivas relax in between songs

StarJam Jambassador Ray Woolf receives honour

Meet two new Jammers 

The year has certainly started on a high note with the presentation of the ginormous plane-shaped $135,000 cheque from Air New Zealand.   StarJam, along with Starship Foundation and Make A Wish Foundation was a very happy beneficiary of Air New Zealand’s “Kids at Christmas” online charity auction.   The cheque presentation took place on Monday 4^th February at Air New Zealand’s downtown Auckland offices.

This magnificent donation will help us to provide a greater number of opportunities for young people with disabilities to join our Talent Expansion Programme, get on stage and get jamming. We are enormously grateful to Air New Zealand for the support they provide StarJam and all the Jammers.

We were delighted to learn that one of our Jambassdaors, Ray Woolf, was named as a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entertainment in this year’s New Year Honours list.  We send hearty congratulations to Ray for receiving this prestigious and much-deserved award.  We are enormously proud of Ray and the great honour he has brought to StarJam by being our Jambassador. 

Ray has performed in six of StarJam’s major productions including the first-ever show in November 2002. In the StarJam Stage Show in 2005, he played the role of “The King”. Together with his jester, played by Michael Barrymore, he helped the Jammers on their journey to the land of StarJam.

Michael Barrymore, Ray Woolf with Jammers Red Nicholson, Anthony Jellyman and Olivia Shivas. Photo by Patrick Bellett.

StarJam has five Jambassadors, Daniel Gourlay, John Hawkesby, Jono Heaps, DJ (Dean) Morath and Ray Woolf.

Sisters Amy, 10 and Jessica, 12, Wootton have recently discovered StarJam.  Both love singing and acting and would like to carve out careers in these fields.  Amy also loves gymnastics and Jessica is keen on the internet.  Both girls attend Whenuapai School and will be singing their hearts out in a CoolJam singing workshop starting this week.

 CoolJam Workshops

This week, around 100 Jammers are starting in on a new series of CoolJam workshops.   We have some very excited young people chomping at the bit to get jamming.  Some are already asking about performing in the end of year show!!   Watch out for news of great jamming achievements and of course the show.  

Thank you for all your support.

As those who were at the Go On Shine Show on Saturday 17th November would tell you, you have to be there to know what it is to get jammed. This brief newsletter could never convey to you the sights, sounds and atmosphere from the big night. It does though contain a few pix and some of the comments we received from the Jammed after the show.

Cushla Burgess, Jade Laughton and Rebecca Everard
Ramping it up during the rehearsals.

The show opened with the whole cast greeting the audience
And…, MC Simon Dallow chats with Jammer, Loren Corbett

“ It was the first time I’ve seen StarJam ‘in action’ and I was absolutely blown away. All of the Jammers were truly inspirational and I have definitely been ‘Jammed’.” Crystal Clayton

Jammers from the West Auckland Dazzling Dance workshop…and
The North Shore Sensational Singers celebrate with Megan Alatini

“What a great night Saturday was - each and every Jammer a star and an inspiration. - it was really quite special to be there.”
Leanne Tiscornia

The Groovy Guitarists belt out “I’m a believer”

“Just wanted to congratulate you all on a fantastic show and to thank you for the hours of effort that went into producing what can only be described as a Masterpiece.”
Lorraine Cummins

Sarah Hall takes flight in her dance solo and
Moana Mani is absolutely delighted to be on stage with Ben Lummis

“I was both enchanted and inspired by the enthusiasm all the children showed on stage, and I admire the courage that it must have taken for many (if not all) of them to get up and perform on stage. Overall, I was quite swept up in the joy of the night and will remember it forever.”
Lydia Hughes

Thomas Castle and Joanie Bartels with Dean in the finale song “Anything is Possible”

“Saturday was one of the most inspiring, exhilarating, fun, busy, wonderful, entertaining experiences of my life! The Jammers were absolutely AWESOME! Working with them was such a joy, I will never forget it and certainly intend to be on board for next year’s extravaganza!”

Joanie Bartels-MacDonald

All photos in this newsletter by Patrick Bellett

A big thank you to everyone who helped to make the show such a success……

The celebrities, Simon Dallow, Ben Lummis, Megan Alatini, Joanie Bartels, Nubian Angelz and Jonny Williams who so generously gave their time.

Our sponsors and supporters for the show:

• Lion Foundation
• Southern Trust
• Nestle NZ Ltd
• Multi-Media
• Patrick Bellett Photography
• Cut Above Academy,

The “CoolJam” Tutors, the “CoolJam” volunteers, all the volunteers who made up the show support team, the Jammers’ families and of course the Jammers themselves.

The audience who were so warm and generous

Daniel Gourlay on left with the North Shore Dancers

Daniel Gourlay’s show blog

the show went well for us all we put Iove in it and together as a team StarJam is I well never forget that moment to shine again with all my friends and family the last thing I liked that peolpe having fun and bevlie that StarJam will not forget that show went on and on belong be strong believe achieve we all did that

More news of the show will soon be available on our website.

Air New Zealand’s Kids at Christmas Auction

In early December we will send you more happy news about the Air New Zealand Online Christmas Charity Auction which will run from 10th Dec – 19th Dec.

Thanks for all your support.

From the Team @

StarJam
P + 64 9 624 4555
M + 64 21 782 752
PO Box 55 234, Mission Bay, Auckland, New Zealand

The Dynamic Drumming group were the first up; the sounds of the drums reverberated through the theatre and created an buzz throughout the audience.

Before the Whangarei Dazzling Dance group took to the stage, Simon interviewed Loren Corbett, making an adjustment for difference in height.

Whangarei Dazzling Dance then set the theatre alight with both their dance and the special effects from their costumes.

The North Shore Dancers were up next, each introducing themselves through their favourite song. Daniel Gourlay showed us what it meant to be a Seventies ‘cool guy’ and Kristina Cullen danced beautifully to “The Tide Is High”. They followed with their group dance to “Here Comes the Sun”, which was fantastic!

The Central Auckland Hip Hopper’s kicked off the second half with some awesome moves, with each Jammer shining on stage.

The Groovy Guitarists performed “I’m a Believer”. Ben Matthews was awesome on vocals and all guitarists played wonderfully. A special mention to Hasini De Silva who had to make a quick costume change and did it with flair.

West Auckland Dance completed the acts from the CoolJam workshops, each introducing themselves to the audience through music, Adam Jones showed us some awesome disco moves, with Sarah Hall bringing on a bit of “Grease Lighting”. West Auckland’s group dance took us back to the 1920’s & 1930’s, with grace and poise.

Nathan Child and Hasini de Silva, two of our rock stars on guitars and the West Auckland Sensational Singers get physical during their song

Ben Lummis rehearsing with the Sensational Singers from the Central Auckland CoolJam workshop … and everyone practicing the opening number for the show.

Time out from rehearsing for a group photo with Megan Alatini and Ben Lummis And Cushla Burgess and Rachel van de Broek embracing their duet

Matt Gibb and Dayna Vawdrey, presenters from TV2’s Studio Two programme, came along to watch the rehearsals last Saturday. They thought the Jammers were awesome (and definitely vice versa)

Thomas Castle and Jeffrey MacLean with Dayna

While all these final rehearsals have been taking place, three students from Auckland University of Technology have been making a short documentary on StarJam as a part of their studies

Sophie Schroder, Maine Perret and Nikki Wood interviewing Michael Dunn for the doco

If you would like to grab one of the last seats available for the Go On Shine Show on 17th November, you should contact the StarJam office now on 0800 4 StarJam (0800 478275)

Three new Jambassadors

Trumpeting in the news you have been waiting for….. we have pleasure in announcing that the next StarJam Show will be on Saturday 17th November at the TelstraClear Events Centre in Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand. There will be a cast of around 100 and a line up not to be missed!! Tickets will be extremely limited and will be available from 3rd September. Best mark your diary now for 17th November for the show and 3rd September to secure a seat. Tickets will be available from the StarJam office for a suggested donation of $25.

Three new Jambassadors

On the evening of 27th July, three new Jambassadors were announced to join StarJam’s first two. John Hawkesby was the first Jambassador StarJam appointed and DJ (Dean) Morath the second. The three honoured last Thursday were Ray Woolf, Jono Heaps and Daniel Gourlay. Ray Woolf (left) being welcomed to the ranks of Jambassadorship by DJ (Dean) Morath. Also honoured were Jono Heaps and Daniel Gourlay at StarJam’s Annual General Meeting Ray Woolf has been involved with StarJam since our launch in 2002. He has been in the cast of all but one of StarJam’s shows. In the StarJam Stage Show he not only sang, but played the role of the king who allowed the Jammers to pass through his kingdom. He was a very gracious king! On top of that, the Jammers really appreciate his willingness to sing whatever songs they want to sing. His support has been awesome. Ray Woolf singing in the finale of StarJam Rocks 05 and In the StarJam Stage Show on 2005 as king, here talking to ‘court jester’ Michael Barrymore Jammers Red Nicholson, Anthony Jellyman and Olivia Shivas looking on. Daniel Gourlay first participated in StarJam in 2003. He soon started phoning up with ideas and suggestions and his dedication to StarJam became obvious. He was chosen to go on StarJam’s first jamming trip to USA where he interviewed Danny DeVito. This now famous interview has been screened on TVNZ as well as at StarJam shows and has been seen by an estimated 600,000 people. Daniel went on to co-host two of StarJam’s shows with Kate Hawkesby. Due to his outstanding dedication and persuasive powers he is now a member of the StarJam team working in the office two days a week. Daniel at a StarJam Stage Show rehearsal with Shane Cortese and Nerida Lister….and Lost for words at the presentation of his Jambassador award last week. Julie Bartlett and Sheryl Takayama watch his delight. Jono Heaps was one of StarJam’s original Jammers who participated in the launch in 2002 where he interviewed cricketer Lou Vincent. He clocked up an impressive list of interviews over the following three years; Martin Crowe, John McEnroe and Michael Bolton. Jono was the Music Director for StarJam Rocks 06 and has led many singing rehearsals. Other outstanding contributions include performing with only a couple of hours notice at a major event in Minneapolis, to an audience of 2000. Jono is StarJam’s first Jammer to become a CoolJam workshop tutor. Together with Renee Maurice, he co-wrote StarJam’s recently released Queen of Hearts song. Jono interviewing Martin Crowe at StarJam’s interview show in 2003 and with Jay Leno backstage at the Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala in Minneapolis, USA in 2006

Jamming at the AGM

Some of our new Jammers gave a great performance at the Annual General Meeting. The girls from the West Auckland Sensational Singing workshop belted out two lovely songs. Ben Matthews who has been writing songs prolifically since he started the Groovy Guitar workshop, sang one of his recently-created songs. Jade Laughton, Cushla Burgess, Rachel Van De Broek, Erin Cummins (obscured) sing “Honey I’m Home” and Ben Matthews sings ‘Uninspired Melody’ It was a great opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful work done by the volunteers who supervise the CoolJam workshops. Jammer Isaac Toafa painted gorgeous ‘canvases’ for each of the CoolJam volunteers. Volunteer Michelle Maitland receiving a canvas from Programmes Manager Sheryl Takayama Many said it was the most delightful Annual General Meeting they had ever attended. From all the team at StarJam, thank you for your support.