Owen is an experienced and versatile musician with a reputation as a dynamic and enthusiastic conductor and music director as well as being known for his work in education and teaching. In 2001 Owen was appointed the Director of Music for the Royal New Zealand Air Force and subsequently worked in this field for 16 years finishing as conductor and Director of the Royal New Zealand Navy Band in Auck-land. He also conducts professional, amateur, tertiary and youth level orchestras and ensembles throughout New Zealand and Australia.

After learning the violin from a young age Owen subsequently completed his Bachelor of Music majoring in performance trombone at Victoria University. On completion of this degree, he worked as a freelance musician in Wellington and has played the trombone with all the professional orchestras in New Zealand as well as many other musical ensembles.

He is in demand as an adjudicator and he undertakes workshops and adjudicates at music festivals throughout New Zealand and in Australia including the KBB Festival in Auckland, Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival and the NZCT Chamber Music Contest. Owen moved to Brisbane in 2015 and is currently Director of Music at Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

One of New Zealand’s premier jazz artists, over the years Rodger has performed with some of the biggest names in jazz – blues and commercial music including Michael Brecker, Diane Schuur, Joey Defrancesco, Mike Stern, Randy Crawford, Michael Houstoun, Charlie Musselwhite, Robben Ford, Chris Cain, Jon Papenbrook, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Smith, Tom Warrington, Larry Koonse, Joe La Barbara, John Fedchock, Clay Jenkins, Eric Marienthal, Bill Cunliffe, Steve Houghton, Dick Oatts, Alex Sipiagin, Bob Sheppard, Bruce Forman, Charley Davis, Denise Perrier, Alan Broadbent and Jim Pugh to name a few. Winner of Jazz Recordings of the Year”1984, 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2011 plus has been nominated on 9 other occasions. In September 2017 featured performance at the 60th Monterey Jazz Festival in California. Latest CD “Hipwalk” released in May 2018 which was recorded at United Studios in Los Angeles.

Erna Ferry is a paramount jazz and blues singer and comes with stellar experience in many styles of musical performance. Erna is a vivacious, fun, sparkling stage personality. She has the ability to grab the crowd and make them hers. Whether she is singing a slow sultry ballad or belting out a swinging blues, you are in no doubt that Erna is giving the song her utmost.

July 2013 – Erna toured to the USA with The Rodger Fox Wellington Jazz Orchestra and recorded with the band at the famed Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles – This CD has been released under the title of “The Capitol Sessions”. In 2015 Erna toured the Peggy Lee Story to much acclaim while continuing to work with the Rodger Fox Big Band and the Wellington Jazz Orchestra. 2016 sees Erna continuing to work with Rodger – and also finding a way to get back into some blues with the initiative “Two Bluesy Blondes”.

In 2017 Erna appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival in California USA.

Lauren Ellis is a drummer, percussionist and composer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Originally hailing from Tauranga, Lauren moved to Wellington in 2008 where she studied jazz performance at the New Zealand School Of Music, earning a Bachelor and Post Graduate Diploma.

Lauren has toured with acclaimed musicians Mike Stern, Joey Defrancesco, Hollie Smith, Mark Williams, and Chris Cain in recent years as part of the Rodger Fox Big Band, as well as joining international touring shows such as Ben Portsmouth’s ‘The King Is Back’ and ‘Sounds Of The Supremes’ for their New Zealand legs. Lauren is currently recording a new album with Richter City Rebels, due for release late 2017.

Alongside performing, Lauren also enjoys writing music, arranging and teaching. She has a passion for music education and teaches in high schools and privately in the Wellington region. Lauren has enjoyed giving back to jazz education in NZ and participated in adjudication, workshops and performances at many of the youth jazz competitions around the country such as Tauranga Jazz Festival, Manawatu Jazz Festival, Southern Jam and CPIT Jazz Quest in Christchurch. Lauren endorses Yamaha Drums.

Simon is currently Head of Winds at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University. He graduated from the ArtEZ Conservatorium, Netherlands, with a Master degree in classical saxophone. He is a contract player for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as well as appearing with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands National Orchestra, and Netherlands Blazers Ensemble. Simon also continues to give solo and chamber recitals throughout New Zealand for CMNZ, as well as concerts overseas. From 2013 – 2017 he was Director of Music for the RNZAF Band.

International awards include the prestigious Grachten Festival Conservatorium Competition in Amsterdam, the Artez Kunstnacht Competition for top graduating student, best saxophonist under 30 at the Melbourne International Festival of Single Reeds as well as being a finalist in the New Zealand National Concerto Competition. He has appeared at numerous international festivals including the BBC Proms, Brandenburg Festival, Grachten Festival Amsterdam, NZ International Festival and toured for CMNZ in a number of groups since 2004.

Ryan Youens is a well-regarded writing-musician, conductor and music educator. He has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician for numerous ensembles across New Zealand, working with beginner-level musicians through to professionals. Ryan brings an eclectic and dynamic approach that is enjoyed by all ages. Ryan graduated with a Master of Music degree from the New Zealand School of Music in 2006, and also holds a Graduate Diploma in Teaching. As an educator, he has worked at the New Zealand School of Music, University of Otago, University of Auckland, Music and Audio Institute of NZ, UNITEC, schools and throughout the music industry.

Ryan’s highest acclaim comes as a music orchestrator, arranger and preparer, working with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, London Metropolitan Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Budapest Scoring Orchestra and the Dutch Radio Chamber Orchestra; artists such as Neil Finn and Dave Dobbyn; composers such as Victoria Kelly, Rhian Sheehan and Anthony Ritchie; and publishers such as G. Schirmer. He’s also worked on music for ‘The Hobbit’, for a ride at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, and on music seen at various scoring stages including Abbey Road.

Isaac Stone is a Wellington-based choral conductor, singing teacher and music educator. He founded and conducts the innovative 60-strong choir Supertonic, which is known for presenting thought-provoking classical concerts as well as outreaching to new audiences in rock-spectacular shows. Isaac is a music teacher at Tawa College in Wellington, where he does a mix of classroom teaching, singing teaching, brass teaching and choir directing, including the large Dawn Chorus choir and the chamber choir Blue Notes, who have featured in the Big Sing National Finale every year since 2014. He has been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, the New Zealand Youth Choir, Inspirare and is now a member of Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. Isaac’s expertise is often sought for choral workshops around the country, and he also performs as a baritone soloist. He has a BMus in Classical Singing from Victoria University and an ATCL in piano performance.