Supporting Adamstown’s vision to reach people through music
Uniting Financial Services, through funding the Synod Mission Resource Fund, is proud to support Adamstown’s vision to reach people through providing a venue for jazz performance.
Adamstown Uniting Church has a long, rich history of choirs, orchestras, pipe organ, bands and performing groups. Building on this history, the hope was to share the blessings of music with the community through the Dungeon Jazz ministry.
From sixties swing to Latin salsa and from Dixieland to big band style … Running a jazz club is a unique way for a church to connect with the surrounding community.
Rod Barnes, now jazz ministry coordinator, had always wanted to run a big band and get to the best gigs in town. Meeting the Rev. Chris Budden helped bring this dream to life — the jazz ministry was born.
For more than ten years, on the first Thursday of every month audiences have gravitated to the hall under Adamstown church — the Dungeon.
A diverse ministry has evolved, that:
- maintains monthly gigs with a great line up of local and national talent,
- encourages young musicians through the annual JazzComp for performers up to 25 years, and
- attracts young listeners with a student rush price of $5.
Committed volunteers brew coffee, make cakes, produce a newsletter, maintain a website, take bookings and set up and publicise gigs.
One special gig was the 10th anniversary concert in April 2007 which featured the Dungeon’s own big band to a sell-out crowd at Newcastle City Hall.
The Dungeon Big Band (led by Rod Barnes) has produced two CDs, plays two of the monthly gigs each year and provides music for the annual Big Band Carols in December — a great drawcard for the community!
So, where to now? The people of the Dungeon Jazz community now happily attend other congregation events including high tea, Sunday morning concerts and Girls Night In. To enhance this crossover between community and congregation involves keeping the heart of the church open to all and offering pathways for spiritual awakening and development. www.dungeonjazz.com.au.
Uniting Financial Services is proud to support the Synod in its day-to-day work and the important mission initiatives funded through the Synod Mission Resource Fund. Uniting Financial Services wishes to thank its investors for helping us to help the church in these and other important ways.
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