Sydney-based singer Kristin Berardi has won the 2006 Montreux Jazz Voice Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The final took place in Switzerland on 4 July.
Al Jarreau led the panel of judges, which also included Muriel Dubuis, vocal teacher of the Montreux Music Conservatory, vocalist Earl Thomas, the chief of programs of Radio Fribourg, Thierry Savary, and the music critic and filmmaker Arnaud Robert.
Backed by Jarreau’s band – pianist Larry Williams, bassist Chris Walker, drummer Mark Simmons, guitarist Ross Bolton and saxophonist Joe Turano – Kristin chose to sing her own composition The Last Time and Sigman/Bonfa’s A Day in the Life of a Fool. She also performed What’s New by Johnny Burke and Bob Haggart, the competition’s set piece.
Out of 70 applicants Kristen was one of three Australians who made the final eight. The other two were Kate Fuller and Jasmine Nelson.
The other place getters were US citizen Jean Rohe and Norweigan Harald Baumgartner.
Kristin receives 5,000 Swiss Francs, a wireless Shure microphone system worth $3,000, a performance and masterclass at the 2007 International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in New York as well as a performance at the 2007 Monteruex Jazz Festival next July.
Photo: Kristin Beradi with Al Jarreau and Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Nobs
