Jazz sax player Dan Thorne (23) of Victoria Park and oboist Rebecca Ream (22) of Bibra Lake have been awarded the 2008 WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) Scholarships.
Funded by the Department of Culture and Arts, the WAYJO Scholarships aim to recognise two musicians for their outstanding musicianship by offering opportunities to develop their music careers.
Oboist Rebecca Ream, currently in her 3rd year of an education / music double degree at ECU Mt Lawley, will use her scholarship funds to attend the Music Technology in Education Conference (MTEC) in Melbourne on 19-21 January 2009. The conference will feature eminent music educators and musicians – Thomas Rudoplh, Marcel Pusey and James Morrison.
For Dan Thorne, the Scholarship tops off a fantastic year. The saxophonist and composer, who graduated with honours last year from the WA Academy of Performing Arts, has taken part in a national tour with the Mace Francis Orchestra, where he was featured as both a composer and a soloist. Dan was also a featured soloist on the debut album by the Johannes Luebbers Dectet, which won a WA Music Industry (WAMI) award. He plans to use his scholarship money to travel to Europe to study saxophone and composition.
Also awarded for a collaboration of commitment, musicianship and admirable band contribution were three members of each of the three WAYJO ensembles, known as the Patron Awards. For high achievements in the Swing Band, Daniel Connor (sax) was awarded, Martin Duck (trumpet) for his contribution in the Big Band and taking out the Composers Ensemble prize money was Elliot Hughes (trumpet). The 2008 Bendat Scholarship Award winners, Sarah McKenzie (piano) and Brett Smith (sax) were also recognised for their achievements.
WAYJO is one of Australia’s cultural gems and the only youth jazz orchestra of its kind in the country. It provides a unique experience for jazz musicians aged 14-25 who are the absolute cream of young jazz players in the state. The purpose of WAYJO is to give young jazz musicians the training to play at a professional standard, play alongside award-winning guest artists, learn to put together a swing band, jazz band or orchestra and give them the confidence to venture out and create their own bands and, hopefully, earn a
living from being a musician.
A unique hothouse for Australia’s young jazz musicians, WAYJO provides the bridge from aspiring school musician to professional working musician. And now with 25 years of musicians working their way through the WAYJO ranks, we can now see that the WAYJO experience absolutely works.
WAYJO graduates have taken the music world by storm and pop up in touring rock, pop, jazz and musical stage show bands across the globe. Just this year alone musicians from WAYJO have played in the Dancing with Stars house band (Jordan Murray – trombone), toured in Kylie Minogues X2008 show (Graeme Blevins – saxophone), toured with James Morrison (Troy Roberts – saxophone) and toured with Kate Ceberano (Jamie Oehlers – saxophone, also named Head of Jazz at WAAPA this year). This year’s James Scholarship winner, Konrad Paszkudski, is also a WAYJO graduate.
Perth’s vibrant live jazz scene is a testament to the power of WAYJO training. Almost every jazz, swing, lounge and big band now performing in Perth has current or past members of WAYJO, proving that the WAYJO experience works! Jamie Oehlers, Graham Wood, Troy Roberts, Carl Mackey and Mat Jodrell all played their way through WAYJO.
This year has been an exceptional year for WAYJO alumni with pianist Konrad Paszkudzki winning the James Morrison Scholarship and four ex WAYJO musicians awarded full scholarships to study Masters at International Universities. Mat Jodrell (trumpet) – Manhattan School of Music; Daniel Susnjar (drums) – University of Miami and Catherine Noblet (trombone) – University of Ilinois and Andrew Murray (Double degree trombone/composition) – University of Music and Dramait Arts Graz (Austria).
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary year, with special support from it’s 25th anniversary partner – Azimuth Financial Planners.
WAYJO’s principal sponsor is Healthway promoting the Heart Foundation’s ‘Be Active’ message. WAYJO also receives funding from the Western Australia Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts in Association with Lotterywest and the Commonwealth government through the Australia Council. WAYJO are also grateful for additional sponsorship from The West Australian newspaper, City of Perth, ECU, the Bendat Family Trust, The Perron Charitable Trust and the WA Academy of Performing Arts.
