Young jazz talent on show

Music

Six outstanding jazz musicians - all students at the University of Adelaide - will show the public why they've been chosen for the 2007 jazz awards at the University's Elder Conservatorium of Music.

The students will perform and be presented with their awards at an evening of jazz being held in the Scott Theatre, off Kintore Avenue, on Wednesday 9 May at 7.30pm. The concert will also feature special guests the Adelaide Connection jazz choir, conducted by Luke Thompson.

"These awards have become an integral part of the jazz program at the Elder Conservatorium over the past 11 years," said Bruce Hancock, Head of Jazz Studies at the Conservatorium.

"When they were first introduced in 1997, with the support of the Helpmann Academy, they helped to redress the imbalance between the large number of classical awards and the few jazz awards then in existence. We are extremely pleased that the sponsors, several of whom have been with us since the inaugural year, continue to support such a worthy event."

Tickets for the Jazz Awards concert are only $8, payable at the door on the night (no concessions available).

Subscribers to the Elder Conservatorium Evening Concert Series can purchase tickets to the Jazz Awards at a special price of $6 per person (compared with the full price of $8).

For more information or to become a subscriber, see the Evening Concert Series brochure in early April. www.music.adelaide.edu.au

The talented winners for 2007 are:

Joshua Baldwin (drums)
Adelaide City Council Award
Most Outstanding Jazz Honours Graduate
Joshua completed the Bachelor of Music Jazz Performance program in 2005 and was the recipient of an undergraduate jazz award for drums. He received 1st Class Honours in Music (Jazz Performance) in 2006 and is completing a Law degree.

James Annesley (saxophone)
Sponsored by Keith Langley
Most Outstanding Jazz Undergraduate
James completed his Bachelor of Music degree in 2006 and has moved to live and study in Melbourne, where he is completing Honours Improvisation at the Victorian College of the Arts. He received the most outstanding saxophone undergraduate award in 1999.

Matthew Sheens (piano)
Tommy Norman Jazz Piano Award
Matthew has been studying jazz piano since 2003 when he received the Jack de Vos Scholarship for single studies (Jazz) at the Elder Conservatorium. He started in the Bachelor of Music program in 2005.

Quentin Angus (guitar)
dB Magazine Award
Quentin began jazz in the Elder Conservatorium Certificate IV program in 2004. He then progressed to a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) and is currently completing third year.

Ross McHenry (bass)
Tommy Norman Jazz Bass Award
Ross is currently in the third year of a Bachelor of Music program (Jazz Performance) and hopes to continue postgraduate studies in the United States once he completes his degree.

Barnabas Smith (drums)
Billy Hyde Music Adelaide Award
Barnabas is currently in his third year of the Bachelor of Music program in Jazz on Drum Kit. He has recently become a member of the contemporary Adelaide jazz band, etypejazz.

For more information, please contact Helen Simpson, Manager of the Evening Concert Series at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, phone (08) 8303 5286 or email: helen.simpson@adelaide.edu.au