Yamaha Education News

Richard Michael Wins Parliamentary 'Jazz Educator' Award

Pictured here: Yamaha Jazz Experience's Richard Michael (centre) receives his award, presented by Chris Hodgkins, Director of Jazz Services Ltd (left) with awards ceremony presenter Paul Gambaccini (right)

Richard Michael, a leading light in the Yamaha Jazz Experience project, received the 2009 Jazz Educator award at the annual All Party Parliamentary Jazz awards event, held at the House of Common in May 2009. The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and sponsored by music licensing company PPL and Jazz Services, hosted this year by broadcaster Paul Gambaccini.

Winners in the other award categories were:

• Jazz Musician: Phil Robson (guitar)
• Jazz CD: 'Howeird' by the Sam Crockatt Quartet
• Jazz Ensemble: Ryan Quigley Sextet
• Best Venue: The Fleece, Kersey, Suffolk
• Jazz Broadcaster: Sarah Ward, JazzFM
• Jazz Publication: jazzreloaded.com
• Services to Jazz: Val Wilmer, photographer and writer

Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London also receive an award was recognising the club's 50th anniversary.

Richard Michael has spent 35 years in music education, 32 of which have been spent running the Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra. He is a prolific jazz educator, pianist and organist. He's been a leading light in the development of the Associated Board's ground-breaking jazz exam syllabus and lectures in jazz at St Andrew's University. He has released a CD (May 2009), 'The Deil's Awa' Wi' The Jazzman', showcasing his highly accomplished and lyrical jazz piano playing in his own take on a catalogue of Robert Burns' songs. More on Richard Michael is available on his website.

Early in 2009 Richard led some inspiring jazz improvising workshop's for teachers across the UK, as part of Yamaha's 2009-2010 Jazz Experience project, which culiminates in a national competition for jazz ensembles whose musicians are aged 11-19.

As an extension to the Parliamentary Jazz Group's activities Yamaha provides jazz scholarships to talented students studying jazz full-time in Britain's conservatoires and last year produced a CD featuring all the scholarship recipients. This year's scholarship event will take place in July, with a new recording due late in 2009. Further details from: www.yamahaeducation.co.uk.

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(posted May 2009)