Scholarship Success

Adam butler One of this year’s scholarship winners.

Jazz in Martinborough is sponsoring five up-and-coming secondary school jazz musicians to attend the NZ Jazz Foundation Summer School in Wellington in December.  

“This is the 3rd year we have been able to sponsor students to attend the Summer School,” says college jazz showcase coordinator for Jazz in Martinborough Mary Quayle.  “Fresh Jam – the college workshops and concert – was able to go ahead in September despite level 2 COVID restrictions.  So being able to continue to support the local colleges’ music programmes by enabling the students to get to Wellington next month is very pleasing,” she adds.

Fresh Jam has been running for eight years, incorporating jazz music workshops led by jazz icon Dr Rodger Fox, and a showcase concert for friends and families. It is heavily supported by the music teachers from our local Wairarapa Colleges and Dr Fox gives his time freely.

Each year the NZ Jazz Foundation host a week-long programme of intensive Jazz tuition for secondary students to develop their instrumental skills, improvisation and performance.  “Students pay $250 to attend the School and receive international-level music education,” says Mary. “However, our sponsorship of their fees means that five Wairarapa students are able to attend without having to pay this fee.”

Part of the success of the scholarship programme has been the ongoing support of Creative Communities.  “They provide us with the funds to run Fresh Jam, and provide invaluable help towards making these scholarships possible,” says Mary.  This year these scholarships are awarded as the Jazz in Martinborough/Creative Communities Scholarships.

It is one of the aims of Jazz in Martinborough to develop youth music, in particular jazz music, within our secondary schools, and the Fresh Jam workshops and concert leading to the scholarships fits neatly into this ethos.  Says Mary: The Summer School emphasis on performance-based education – they conclude the week with a concert – also ties in nicely with our aims.”

In the past, students from Fresh Jam and other Jazz in Martinborough college events have gone on to full time music education at the NZ School of Music.  “Anything we can do to help facilitate this kind of outcome is worthwhile,” concludes Mary.