Yamaha Education News

Jazz unites the House as Yamaha UK honours its 2011 jazz scholars

The 2011 Yamaha Jazz Scholars, pictured here in Westminster after they had performed for MPs and jazz VIPs at Portcullis House, July 2011. (L-R Rear): Nick Costley-White, Josh Arcoleo, Riley Stone-Lonergan. (L-R Front): Chris Hyson, Jonathan Silk, Chris Eldred. Photo: Hayley Madden.

The hugely successful, high-powered and influential partnership between Yamaha in association with Jazzwise, PPL and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) celebrated the fifth year of its Parliamentary Jazz Scholarships programme at APPJAG's annual 'Summer Jazz' event in the Atlee Suite, Portcullis House, House of Commons on Wednesday 13 July.

Following an inspired performance by the Joe Stilgoe Trio, six winners representing the pinnacle of young British jazz talent put in an exceptional performance, after being nominated for special consideration by the heads of jazz at six of the UK's leading conservatoires.

Award winning Jazz FM presenter Helen Mayhew and Yamaha UK's Music Education Manager Bill C Martin presented scholarships to Nick Costley-White (guitar, Guildhall School of Music & Drama), Chris Eldred (piano, Trinity Laban College of Music & Dance), Chris Hyson (double bass, at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Jonathan Silk (drums, Birmingham Conservatoire), Riley Stone-Lonergan (tenor saxophone, Leeds College of Music) and Josh Arcoleo (tenor saxophone, Royal Academy of Music). 

All six scholarship winners, who are about to complete their full-time conservatoire jazz studies, each received £1,000 to help set themselves up as they embark on their new musical careers. More importantly the unique platform of a performance at the Palace of Westminster provided the opportunity to showcase their talent not only to parliamentarians from both Houses who are interested in jazz, but also to prominent invitees from the jazz community, including press, venue operators and record company executives.

In addition to the £1,000 scholarship, all six scholarship award winners will have the opportunity to feature alongside some of Yamaha's most highly respected and established jazz artists on The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2011 promotional CD, sponsored by Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK), to be recorded and cover-mounted on Jazzwise Magazine's Christmas and New Year double issue, with the chance to perform live at the CD launch at London's internationally renowned 606 Jazz Club on 7th December. Previous years' highly acclaimed Yamaha New Jazz Sessions CDs, produced by Andy Ross at Astar Studios, have included tracks by Yamaha artists Liane Carroll, Nigel Hitchcock, Julian Joseph, Gwilym Simcock, Jason Rebello, Ryan Quigley, YolanDa Brown, Georgina Jackson and also Mica Paris. The CD series is expected to top 60,000 copies circulated since its debut release in 2008, amounting to one of the most significant and eagerly awaited jazz albums of the year.

Last year former Yamaha jazz scholars Calum Gourlay (double bass) and Kit Downes (piano), along with drummer James Maddren received a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination for the debut Kit Downes Trio album, Golden.

Yamaha managing director Mike Ketley commented, "These innovative scholarships have further extended our relationship with Jazzwise, PPL and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group. We are committed to the promotion of jazz performance and these scholarships complement our many other music education. What better way to support the studies and showcase the talent of the UK's finest young jazz musicians than through financial assistance, live performance and the recording opportunity that features them alongside major artists in the jazz world on the cover of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine."

PPL managing director Peter Leathem stated, "Once again we heard the extraordinary talent of the young musicians now entering the profession and joining what is such a rich musical scene. We have had a long association with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group as their main sponsor and they have done a great job in bringing politicians face to face with the music. We are pleased now to be working with Yamaha to encourage and support young artists as they launch their careers and create the music of the future."

(ends) A DJPR story

(Posted July 2011)