Saxophonist/educator Daisy Coole attended the Will Michael Jazz Education Awards evening at the Royal Academy of Music. Here is her report. (Video of Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra- pictures to follow)

The annual Will Michael Jazz Education Awards were presented on 10th October during a special ceremony at the Royal Academy of Music. The Diploma is named in honour of Will Michael who, until his death in 2008, was a highly respected jazz educator and invaluable member of the Jazz Services Education Panel.

Led by Ivor Widdison and comprising Dr Catherine Tackley, Andrea Vicari and Bill Martin, the Jazz Services’ Awards Panel paid tribute to those Hubs and Music Services which have demonstrated outstanding commitment to jazz education.

Diplomas were awarded to:

East Renfrewshire
Manchester (One Education Music)
Oxfordshire
Southampton

A Diploma of Special Merit presented to Devon, a county which has been so successful in recent years, has subsequently agreed to mentor other Hubs in England keen to develop their jazz education provision.

Honourable mentions were given to:

Bournemouth & Poole (Soundstorm)
Glasgow,
Sheffield
Southend-on-Sea.

A joyful performance by the Royal Academy of Music Big Band followed the ceremony, showcasing compositions by Dudu Pukwana and the Blue Notes. Presented by Head of Jazz, Nick Smart, and directed and arranged by Stuart Hall, the guest star of the evening was trumpeter Byron Wallen, who managed to emerge victorious from a musical battle of wills with the entire trumpet section.

The awards are presented by Jazz Services in association with the National Music Council Music Education Awards Scheme. The organizers’ full report is HERE