SIMA has taken graduates of the Young Women in Jazz Workshops on the road. After eleven years of presenting Young Women in Jazz Workshops, founded by Sandy Evans, OA, the chance for an exciting collaboration has taken place.
Members of the Alex Silver Quintet have had an opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Inverurie Jazz Festival and Aberdeen International Youth Festival.
This fantastic opportunity took place after a meeting between Stewart Aitkins, the Artistic Director of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and Joanne Kee, Artistic Partnerships Manager at SIMA. SIMA hopes that this partnership will continue to grow with plans underway for future artistic collaborations.
Even more exciting is the possibility of opening further doors between the Australian and UK arts communities. During the tour the Alex Silver Quintet will be playing with current and past winners of the Young Scottish Jazz awards at the Blue Lamp in Aberdeen.
The talented ensemble consists of Alex Silver, band leader and also course leader for the Young Women in Jazz workshops, (which is co-hosted by SIMA and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music), who indeed, actually was a participant of the course. Other participants are now studying at the Sydney Con and include Emma Stephenson, Holly Conner, Melissa Mony and Lucy Clifford.
The workshops aim to offer women pathways into a jazz career, in what can often be a male dominated landscape. It is not a feminist statement, but when course founder Sandy Evans started the program, it was a response to encourage women to consider a career in jazz. After eleven years, the fruits of this program have been paying off with an increase in female enrolments at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. SIMA has also confirmed that discussions are underway to expand the program to Western Australia in partnership with WAYJO and in the Coffs Harbour Conservatorium.
The audience response has been tremendous, with consistent rave reviews from the audience, and local musicians. It is wonderful to hear the reaction of many of the older generation jazz musicians, who are delighted to see and hear the Alex Silver Quintet.
For more information visit www.sima.org.au
