Nine emerging jazz musicians have been presented with $32,500 in awards at A Night of Jazz with Jazzmeia Horn – Helpmann Academy’s annual Jazz Awards event that honours outstanding musicians from the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music.
Held at Elder Hall, University of Adelaide on Friday 25 August, the event paired these musicians with international jazz sensation and multi-Grammy Award nominee Jazzmeia Horn for a thrilling collaborative hour long set.
Anna Goldsworthy, Director of the Elder Conservatorium, said: “Exposure to international artists like Jazzmeia Horn is an utterly invaluable opportunity for our Elder Conservatorium jazz students and our alumni. It’s been a privilege to have here for the past two weeks, and inform these emerging jazz musician’s practice,” Goldsworthy says.
Jazz trumpeter Daniel Isler was presented with the top honour of the night, the Helpmann Academy Langley Award for Jazz, valued at $7,500 and supported by K&S Langley Fund.
Daniel graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) from the Elder Conservatorium in 2020 and that same year received the Helpmann Academy Outstanding Trumpet Player award at the Jazz Awards.
Following his studies Daniel has been exploring his musical identity with a particular interest in composition that integrates fx pedals with the trumpet. He has had national performances with artists including Elsy Wameyo, Slowmango, Kazimierz collective and Bend. He also performed at the inaugural Adelaide Jazz Festival and the prestigious Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues, where Daniel and his band were called the “future of Australian jazz.”
Daniel will be using the award towards creating a new album with his band Soylent Green which will include two live recording sessions, to be released both digitally and on vinyl in 2024.
He says, “the Helpmann Academy Langley Award for Jazz will help me to take the crucial next steps in my artistic career. Offering pivotal opportunities for professional development through the creation of new works is what it’s all about for emerging musicians.”
Other awards presented on the night:
- Helpmann Academy Award for Voice, valued at $5,000 and supported by Dr Rob Lyons was presented to Grace Mensforth
- Helpmann Academy Top Honours Award, valued at $5,000 and supported by David McKee AO & Pam McKee was presented to pianist, Marco Callisto
- Helpmann Academy Top Undergraduate Award, valued at $5,000 and supported by the Lang Family Foundation, was presented to drummer Lewis Dimitropoulos
- Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Saxophonist, valued at $2,000 and supported by JD & The Crabs, was presented to Gwilym Davies.
- Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Multi-Instrumentalist, valued at $2,000 and supported by DankPods was presented to Solomon Young.
- Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Bassist, valued at $2,000 and supported by DankPods was presented to Daniel Courts.
- Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Vocalist, valued at $2,000 and supported by Dr Rb Lyons was presented to Millie Curry.
- Tommy Norman Award valued at $2,000 and supported by Kim Norman & Family and University of Adelaide was presented to pianist Edmund Black.
In preparation for the performance, the emerging jazz musicians were mentored and coached by Jazzmeia with a series of immersive masterclasses. This was an incredible opportunity not often available in Adelaide, for our state’s brightest musicians to expand their experience of jazz.
Jane MacFarlane, CEO, Helpmann Academy, said that the Jazz Awards are an opportunity for the community to celebrate the incredible skill of South Australia’s emerging jazz musicians.
“The Helpmann Academy Night of Jazz is a celebration of the next generation of South Australian jazz talent. Their skill, drive, and passion were on full display as they held their own onstage beside sheer exuberance of Jazzmeia Horn.”
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Images: Sam Roberts