On Saturday 28th August 2021 at the Caloundra Power Boat Club, the Sunshine Coast Jazz Club proudly presented eight finalist school music students who each performed 2 songs/tunes to be judged for the opportunity of winning the major Bursary Award. They were supported by the professional “Rick Best and The Day Trippers” band. The finalists were Eline Van Bruggen, Thomas Van Bruggen from the Good Shepherd Lutheran College Noosa; Shelby Rose Johnson from Maleny State High School; Emily Davies from Maleny State High School; Tosh Kachad from Sunshine Beach State High School; Nic Scully from Unity College Caloundra West; Devlin Matthews from Mountain Creek State High School and Joel Sanchez-Carn from St. Andrews Anglican College Peregian Springs. SUNSHINE COAST JAZZ CLUB - Youth n Jazz - 2021 The students were outstanding in their presentation, choice of music and confident in front of an anticipating audience and were rewarded with strong applause. Each Student had been given a short rehearsal with Rick and The Day Trippers in the morning. The three judges plus advice from Rick Best, were given a difficult task as each student performed brilliantly. To select the winners the judges looked for small nuances to differentiate between the students - not an easy task. Finally, after a long consideration, President Julie Walker was given the winning names to announce and present the trophies and cash awards.
The winner of the Instrumental Section was JOEL SANCHEZ-CARN from St Andrews Anglican College Peregian Springs playing Electric Guitar and the winner of the Vocal Section was EMILY DAVIES from Maleny State High School. Emily and Joel were presented with the winners’ award of $1000 each, and a $500 cheque was also given to Joel and Emily's schools’ music departments. Trophies and a cash prize were given to each of the other six competing students as ‘encouragement awards’ for their excellent performance. The judges agreed that with these talented students who performed, that “Queensland and Australian jazz has a very safe future.”
More schools are encouraged to participate for the Sunshine Coast Jazz Club's YOUTH’N’JAZZ music Bursary in 2022 and it is hoped students will keep an eye on the Club’s web site in the new year for news of this event.
Brian Fane - Life member Sunshine Coast Jazz Club.
