Tuesday night saw the House of Commons host the annual Summer Jazz in Portcullis House event, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG). The evening featured a performance by saxophonist YolanDa Brown and her band, and included the presentation of the sixth annual Yamaha Jazz Scholars, in association with Jazzwise and PPL.
The Yamaha Jazz Scholars scheme awards a £1000 Scholarship prize to each of the six final year students, who are selected from six conservatories across the
As well as her profile as a musician, YolanDa Brown now increasingly works within the charity sector, as ambassador for both the Prince's Trust and the Yamaha Class Band, an initiative that visits schools in underprivileged areas encouraging children to pick up an instrument.
The winning scholars for 2012 are:
Jonathan Davis – drums (Leeds College of Music)
Alec Harper - alto saxophone (
Chris Maddock - alto saxophone (Birmingham Conservatoire)
Ben Mallinder - tenor sax - Trinity Laban
Matt Robinson - piano (Royal Academy of Music)
Huw Williams - double bass (Royal Welsh College of Music)
Photo by Hayley Madden: www.hayleymadden.com
Along with the award money, the students will be given the opportunity to record tracks for the Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2012 CD, which will be given away with Jazzwise’s end of year issue, as well as performing at the CD’s official launch gig to be held at the 606 club in
As well as the photo here, you can see more on the Photo Library page. Full profiles of all the 2012 students are available to download below.