Jean-Luc Pitcaithly

Christchurch based Musician and Composer

Jean-Luc’s passion for music started at the age of 6 when Jean-Luc got a recorder for his birthday. Since then he has learnt how to play the trumpet, piano and pipe organ. He is now in his first year of the Music Arts degree at Ara Institute of Canterbury. His goals at the end of this degree are to be a professional musician as well as a composer and a sound engineer.

Jean-Luc has played in the National Secondary Schools’ Brass Band (2016 – 2019), the National Youth Brass Band (2020) and in the National Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (2018).

At St Bede’s College, Jean-Luc played for the school jazz band, orchestra, chamber group and chapel band. He also competed in a duo for Rockquest 2019, gaining the Best Use of Electronic Music award in the Canterbury heats.

Brass bands are an important part of Jean-Luc’s musical career. He currently plays for Woolston Brass on 3rd cornet and has also played at a national level as mentioned above. Each year he attends the National Brass Band Championships competing in the solo, ensemble and band events. His most recent achievements, gained in 2019, was 5th place in the Junior Cornet section and 1st place in the C & D grade ensemble section. His goal is to one day play in the National Band of New Zealand.

Jean-Luc plays the organ and piano at church services several times a month. One of his favourite moments was playing the trumpet and the organ at the opening of the new Chapel of St Bede in 2019 at St Bede’s College.