Inspiring women in jazz: 10 years of the Young Women’s Jazz Workshops
While many people know SIMA for it’s great jazz programming, not many know that the organisation has been pioneering the imbalance of gender in jazz by running an annual short course to encourage more young women to pursue a career in jazz: The Young Women’s Jazz Workshops.
Started in 2002 in association with saxophonist/composer Sandy Evans, the workshops have steadily grown to an intake of up to 50 students annually. Filling a much needed gap in the jazz community, it is a unique short course aimed at young women who are interested in pursuing a professional career in jazz and improvised music.
‘Sadly, women are still very under-represented in jazz – professionally and in tertiary courses. This course provides a supportive environment for aspiring female jazz musicians to explore their creativity and develop their skills in this exciting and challenging musical genre’. Sandy Evans, OAM (course founder, musician/composer)
A change in venue to The Conservatorium in 2009 – The Sydney Con is now co-presenting the course with SIMA – also gave the course a new momentum and a fantastic place for young women to access great facilities and if they choose, which many do, go on to study jazz at a tertiary level.
With leading jazz musicians involved as tutors each year, each student joins an ensemble playing at different abilities and the course culminates with a public concert to give the girls the experience of performing live and showcasing their new skills. Tutors include Sandy Evans, trombonist Alex Silver, bassist Zoe Hauptmann, guitarist Jess Green and pianist Monique Lysiak, there have been several guest tutors over the years have included: Shannon Barnett (VIC) Andrea Keller (VIC) and George Garzone (USA) who conducted a masterclass.
In 2007, due to popular demand, the course opened its auditions to singers as well as instrumentalists and this has led to a vocal ensemble becoming part of the group annually. Singers who have taught on the course include Montreaux winner Kristin Berardi, Jane Irving who has now relocated to New York, and in 2012, popular jazz, folk/rock singer-songwriter Elana Stone.
In the 10 years the course has been running, there has been an increase in the number and standard of rhythm section players and a vibrant community of female musicians has also evolved, with many young women going on to study jazz and form professional bands of their own. A highly visible band resulting from the YWJW is the 17-piece all-female SIRENS ensemble: 14 of the band members have undertaken the course at least once.
As part of a commitment to furthering opportunities for young women, the workshops also offer 3 annual mentorships to promising young students and the chance to participate in the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award (JRMA). Every year, students in the course also participate in a lunchtime forum to discuss careers in jazz and improvised music and many are so excited by their progress in the course that they return again and again to do the course.
For more info visit www.sima.org.au
