27 June 2025
GRAMMY award–winning Linda May Han Oh returns to Adelaide to perform with top jazz musicians and staff from the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music for masterclasses and two concerts this August.
Based in New York, Linda May Han Oh is an internationally leading female bassist and composer. She is the Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music in the bass department, and part of the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice led by Terri Lyne Carrington.
“It has been more than a decade since I’ve performed in Adelaide so I’m excited to be coming back to work with these young musicians at the Helpmann Academy.”
Linda May Han Oh
During her time in Adelaide, Linda will mentor, educate, and perform with the state’s most outstanding jazz students, graduating musicians and staff at Helpmann Academy’s annual A Night of Jazz concerts. Strange Heavens, Linda’s stunning new trio album, with Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet and Tyshawn Sorey on drums, releases August 22, 2025 on Biophilia Records.
“Linda May Han Oh’s return to Adelaide offers an instrumental experience for our jazz students and graduates. Her global perspective, artistic integrity, and invaluable mentorship will resonate deeply with our music community. Working with an artist of her calibre at such a formative stage in their careers can be life–changing, and we are delighted to present this extraordinary opportunity in partnership with the Helpmann Academy.”
Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director of Elder Conservatorium of Music
Listen to the first single and pre-order the album on Bandcamp HERE. Linda will be adapting select songs from the new album for Adelaide audiences. An afternoon and evening concert will take place at the iconic UKARIA Cultural Centre in Mount Barker Summit, featuring Linda as the headlining artist.
“We’ll be playing some of my original music and I’m excited to be a part of this program and also to perform at the special cultural space that is UKARIA.”
Linda May Han Oh
The renowned musician has received a 2022 Deutscher Jazz Preis and was voted the 2018–2021, 2023–2025 Bassist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, as well as 2022 Bassist of the Year in JazzTimes.
Linda has performed and recorded with artists such as Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steve Wilson, Geri Allen, and Vijay Iyer. In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious Herb Albert Award for music and received an Honorary Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music in 2024.
“A major bass voice arrives“.
JazzTimes
“Her innovative range and stellar improvisations have made [her] one of the most dynamic rising stars in jazz today.”
The Wall Street Journal
“A Night of Jazz is one of Helpmann Academy’s premier events—and this year, we’re honoured to welcome internationally acclaimed Linda May Han Oh as our mentor and headline artist. A powerhouse in contemporary jazz, Linda brings unmatched artistry, insight, and inspiration to the stage. Performing alongside South Australia’s most promising emerging jazz musicians, this event offers a rare opportunity to witness world-class talent alongside the next generation of jazz in an unforgettable performance. With just two shows only, this is not to be missed.”
Jane MacFarlane, Helpmann Academy CEO
LINDA MAY HAN OH IN CONCERT
Saturday 16 August 2025
UKARIA Cultural Centre, Mount Barker Summit
Afternoon performance: 3:00pm – 5:00pm (includes announcement of jazz awards)
Evening performance: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
PRESENTING PARTNERS
Helpmann Academy
The University of Adelaide
SUPPORTED BY
Government of South Australia, through CreateSA
UKARIA Cultural Centre
David McKee AO & Pam McKee
AWARD DONORS
K&S Langley Family
Dr Rob Lyons
Lang Family Foundation
Rod & Christine Cornish
DankPods
Jeremy Duffy, The Chili Crabs
The University of Adelaide
Kim Norman & Family
For publicity and interview enquiries, please contact Kate Zealand: kate.zealand@helpmannacademy.com.au
Images: Linda May Han Oh. Supplied.
ABOUT A NIGHT OF JAZZ
A Night of Jazz is Helpmann Academy’s annual Jazz Awards event and concert that honours outstanding musicians from the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music. In 2025, Helpmann is thrilled to welcome Linda May Han Oh to Adelaide to perform with the top graduating jazz musicians and staff.
Past guest artists include Jazzmeia Horn, Vince Jones, Harry James Angus, Paul Grabowsky, The Hot Sardines, Marquis Hill and Kate Ceberano. This event includes the presentation of the annual Helpmann Academy Jazz Awards.
ABOUT LINDA MAY HAN OH
Based in New York City, Linda May Han Oh is an internationally leading female bassist/composer and is currently Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music in the bass department, and is also part of the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice led by Terri Lyne Carrington.
Born in Malaysia and raised in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia, Linda has received many awards including a 2022 Deutscher Jazz Preis and was voted the 2018-2021, 2023-2025 Bassist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist’s Association, as well 2022 Bassist of the Year in Jazztimes. Linda also was voted 2019 Bassist of the Year in Hothouse Magazine and was the 2020 recipient APRA award for Best New Jazz Work. In 2023 she received the prestigious Herb Albert Award for music and received an Honorary Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music in 2024.
Linda has had five releases as a leader which have received critical acclaim, her latest – a quintet album entitled The Glass Hours on Biophilia Records. Her latest commissions include “Littoral Tales” a solo piano piece in two movements for Gloria Cheng, and “Ephemeral Echoes” written for percussion trio and piano trio as well as “Mirrors and Shadows” written for piano and bass duo.
Linda was featured on bass in the 2020 Pixar movie “Soul” under the musical direction of Jon Batiste (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) alongside drummer Roy Haynes and was the model for the character in the film – bassist “Miho.”
ABOUT HELPMANN ACADEMY
The only organisation of its kind in Australia, Helpmann Academy empowers South Australia’s most promising emerging creatives to achieve their visions and build sustainable practices. Helpmann provides professional development opportunities including grants, awards, fellowships, mentorships, masterclasses, workshops, and artist residencies, tailored to South Australia’s tertiary education graduates and emerging artists. Helpmann Academy is a unique collaborative partnership, unifying the skills and resources of the state’s universities.