The South Coast Big Band was formed by Des Cannings in 2009. Since its inception, the band has progressed from being a youth band to being one of the premier jazz orchestras in the country. The band consists of 5 woodwinds, 8 brass, a 4 part rhythm section and vocalist, who are at home playing a great variety of music - from 1940's Glenn Miller to contemporary works. The group has been entertaining crowds regularly with the Illawarra Jazz Club and touring to regional jazz festivals such as the Dubbo Jazz Festival as well as doing special projects with guest artists. 

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In 2019 the band celebrated their 10th anniversary by recording and releasing their first album “Alma” which was made up exclusively of music written and arranged by band members from Wollongong as well as musicians from the Wollongong community. They released their album in November to a full house as part of the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Jazz Series. Earlier in the same year South Coast Big Band collaborated with well renowned Steel City Strings, bringing a “world class performance” featuring the band’s pianist Paddy Kelly in Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ to the locals of Illawarra. This was a fresh opportunity for the band to open their minds to new and exciting repertoire by Bob Brookmeyer, Debussy, Bernstein and Australian composer Judy Bailey.

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The band has taken a bit of a break 2020-21, but is ready to go with a great series of projects in 2022 (stay tuned!).