Jazz Workshop Australia Four out of five finalists in this year’s Jacob Neale jazz Award are from JWA, either alumni or current students. Tenor saxophonist Noah Lane is a current student, playing in jazz combos, SYJO big band, and studying sax with Jack Stoneham. Damon Poppleton, Noah Mejia, and Sam Leong are all alumni of JWA. Justin Yeo is the fifth finalist. Sam Leong is also a teacher at JWA.
The Jacob Neale Award is presented by the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music and sponsored by Newcastle Improvised Music Association (NIMA). The winner receives $5000 with $2500 to the runner-up. The award is to celebrate emerging and young jazz talent. It is named after an energetic and talented young jazz pianist, a dynamic force in the Newcastle jazz community, who died far too young from cancer in 2023. Newcastle Conservatorium describe him as “A quiet force behind many popular ensembles and events, Jacob was greatly loved and respected by all who knew him.”
This is the second year of the Jacob Neale awards. Last year, in the inaugural event, three of the finalists were JWA alumni, including the winner Thomas Odell. Congratulations to all the finalists and thanks to Newcastle Conservatorium and NIMA for running this important event.
The post Four of Five Jacob Neale Award Finalists Are JWA Students and Alumni appeared first on Jazz Workshop Australia.
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