Jeffrey Henderson - a rare musical talent

19/1/2009

Those who attended Otago Boys’ between 1986 and 1990 will well recall the musical talents of Jeffrey Henderson.

Not surprisingly at the end of his time at Otago Boys’, Jeffrey was awarded a scholarship to the Conservatorium of Music in Wellington and graduated three years later as the top student for 1993.

Jeffrey Henderson

Since that time Jeffrey has played the world, principally in the jazz and creative music fields and in November 2008 he was awarded a New Zealand Arts Foundation New Generation Award.

The following entry is from the Arts Foundation’s brochure publicising Jeffrey’s inclusion:

Jeff Henderson is a Wellington-based musician and an integral part of the New Zealand improvised music scene. Committed to alternative music and venues, Jeff is a well-known solo improviser and multi-instrumentalist. A saxophone and clarinet specialist, he also plays guitar, banjo, piano, percussion, and anything else that the music requires. Jeff has performed with internationally renowned musicians such as Richard Nunns and Marilyn Crispell. He has an extensive history as an accompanist, participant in live musical theatre and other collaborative events. Jeff has also been involved in film, received major commissions, and features on many recorded releases. He has toured internationally, performed at major festivals, and currently performs with the bands Fertility Festival, The Melancholy Babes and Colin McCabre. He produces the Om the Space Festival, operates Happy performance venue and runs iiii records.

Jeffrey is part of a long line of Henderson Old Boys.

His great great grandfather Matthew Henderson (1887-90) was the Dunedin City electrical engineer for 24 years and also served as a city councillor; his great uncle Allan Henderson (1923-25) served on the Lincoln College Board of Governors; another great uncle Roly Henderson (1932-36), an RNZAF pilot was killed in action during World War II; his father John Henderson (1954-58) was a long-serving engineer with the Dunedin City Council, served as President of the Dunedin Rotary Club (1999-2000) and District Governor for Rotary District 9980 (2003-04) and is a Life Member of Otago Cricket; his uncle Matt Henderson (1956-60) was Principal of Waimate District High School for many years; and his brother Andrew Henderson (1984-88) who graduated with a BA from Otago majoring in Maori Studies in 1991 and went on to obtain a Master of Regional and Resource Planning (with Distinction) from Otago in 1994. In doing so he became the first graduate of the Department of Maori Studies to complete a Masters Degree. Andrew is a shareholder/Director of Boulder Planning (Otago), a resource management company based in Dunedin.