ABOUT ME
Dylan Blundell has been playing drums since he was 8 years old, where he first started learning at the School of Rock in Sumner. At the age of 13 Dylan was accepted into Burnside High School’s Specialist Music Jazz Programme, in which he was given exclusive training by some of New Zealand's Greatest greatest tutors & Musicians, including: Cameron Oswin, Cain Hood, Chris Petch, Helen Ranaud, Niel Pickard, Lance Phillip, and kiwi Jazz Legends Roger Fox and Kim Paterson. Dylan is currently 18, and was one of Burnside’s Head Prefects in 2022. Throughout his time at high school, Dylan created and participated in several music groups, and in the process, won a variety of national competitions.
chicks from
corea
Chicks From Corea is a 5 piece Jazz combo comprising Burnside High School students: (From Left to Right - Jacob Mullen (Guitar), Dylan Blundell (Drums), William Kao (Trombone, Piano), Dylan Jonkers (Bass, Vocals), Monet Schutte (Vocals, Saxophone). The band was founded by Blundell in 2020, and since then they have performed at several private functions, fundraisers, venues, restaurants/bars and weddings around Canterbury. Chicks From Corea was awarded the overall Most Outstanding Combo award at Southern Jam in 2021, and following this they won the Most Outstanding Combo award at Jazz Quest in 2022. The Band recently won the ‘Best of Festival’ award at the 2022 National Youth Jazz Competition, and have also gone on to win national awards for their original music at Jazz Band-it and Y-Factor in 2022.
Watpic
WATPIC is a percussion quartet comprising members from Burnside, Rangi Ruru and Cashmere High School: (From Left to Right - Sho Woodhouse, Nicolae Didenco, Keina Rollinson, Dylan Blundell). The group achieved national success in the 2022 NZCT Chamber music competition, receiving the Judith Clark 1st Place award and the Graham C John Percussion trophy, following their progression through various elimination rounds. They were also the overall winner of the national digital challenge with over 300 entries nationally. Since then the group has reunited, performing at the 2022 Repercussion concert as a guest act.
Burnside High school big band
Burnside High Shcool’s Big Band is a 20 piece auditioned group that has achieved success in various competitions. Dylan joined the band in 2021, and under the leadership of Chris Petch, the group went on to win a gold award, and the award for the Best Big Band (for the 12th year in a row) at Ara Jazz Quest in 2022. Throughout the year the band performed at several events, including a collaborative effort between Burnside’s orchestra, for a big band and strings showcase. The group travelled to Wellington in October to compete in the first ever Jazz Band-It competition. The band took out the first place award, as well as a $6000 prize.
burnside high school funk band
Burnside High School’s Funk Band is a 12 piece auditioned ensemble comprising students ranging from year 9 to 13. Dylan joined the band in 2020, and has since performed at several school and city-wide events, including: Burnside High School’s 2022 Graduation, Contemporary Showcase, Christchurch Big Band Festival, and more. In 2022 Funk Band participated in Ara Jazz Quest, and under the leadership of Cain Hood, won the award for the best ensemble. The band had an amazing equilibrium between student and staff leadership, which allowed for the student voice to be expressed and heard within the band.
Personal achievements
Dylan has been lucky enough to receive several music related awards at Burnside and in national Competitions. In 2021, Dylan received the Massey University Conservatorium of Music award for the Most Outstanding Drummer at Southern Jam, and also received the award for the most outstanding drummer/percussionist at Ara Jazz Quest in 2022. His song “Chickie Style” (also comp. Will Kao) won Chicks From Corea the award for the most outstanding composition at the Jazz Band-It composition competition in 2022. Dylan received 1st place in his class for Contemporary Music (Year 13) in 2022, and received an excellence endorsement for Level 2 NCEA Music. He was also awarded the Peter Rowe Cup for Musicianship and the Smoke Free cup for Leadership in Music at the 2022 Burnside Music Awards, alongside his companion and fellow drummer Sho Woodhouse.
