Applications for this year’s Peter Whittingham awards for young jazz musicians, administered by the about to be re-named Musicians Benevolent Fund have just opened. Closing date is Nov 12th. Guidelines and other details are HERE.

The awards are open to students on a jazz course at undergraduate or postgraduate level, or people within the first two years of starting a professional career on the closing date. Groups applying must have been established and playing together regularly for at least one year. Applicants need to have been resident in the UK for at least five years. For group applications,at least 50% of the band members must fulfil this criteria.

 The 2012 winner was Reuben Fowler (above) who put his award to very clever use indeed, combining it with his Kenny Wheeler Prize from the Royal Academy of Music.