After a competitive search for Australia’s most exciting young jazz talent, The Music Trust’s Freedman Jazz Fellowship finalists have been announced for 2022. Tom Avgenicos, Flora Carbo and Holly Conner will go before esteemed judges, Virna Sanzone, Andrew Robson and Steve Barry in a live concert finale on September 3^rd, at the iconic Sydney Opera House for the chance to take home the $21, 000 award.

The 2022 judges, Steve Barry, Virna Sanzone and Andrew Robson noted, “This year’s nominees demonstrate the continually expanding possibilities of contemporary jazz. In a climate still challenging for artists, the judges were thrilled to see an explosion of innovative music-making demonstrated in the distinctive creative voices of these three finalists.”

Following a two-year hiatus due to Covid, the Freedman Jazz Final is back at The Studio in the Sydney Opera House, cementing its place as one of the premier jazz events of the year. As is now the tradition, a Freedman Jazz Fellow, leading saxophonist Julien Wilson (2006) with be the special guest artist, along with a former Freedman judge, legendary Australian jazz pianist Mike Nock. ABC’s James Valentine will MC the event and give insights into the three finalists’ projects.

The Fellowship starts with nine leading jazz musicians from around Australia each nominating a jazz musician aged 35 or less whom they believe is among the best in the country. Each of the sixteen nominees submits a recording of their musical performance and a project they will carry out with the prize money, should they be chosen as winner. Three esteemed judges then evaluate the submissions and choose three musicians to complete on the final stage.

Dr Richard Letts, Director of the Music Trust and the Fellowships commented, “Once again the Freedman nominees from across Australia exemplify how superb, diverse and fresh imaginative our nation’s improvised music is. This year’s finalists are unafraid to push boundaries, and that’s what jazz is about.”

The Freedman Fellowships were conceived by Laurence Freedman AM and Dr Richard Letts AM, are managed by The Music Trust, administered and produced by SIMA.

THE FINALISTS

Tom Avgenicos is a trumpeter/composer based in Sydney, who has established himself as a distinctive innovator in the Australian jazz scene. As a bandleader, his unique improvisational approach is at the forefront of Delay 45, whose music flows seamlessly through structure and spontaneity.

Flora Carbo is a Melbourne based alto saxophonist and composer. Her work utilises the vocal quality of the alto, while her improvisatory language and compositions push boundaries between genres. Flora has studied with Julien Wilson, Melissa Aldana, Jim Denley and Scott McConnachie.

Holly Conner is a Sydney-based drummer, percussionist and electronic music producer who has worked across the fields of contemporary improvised, jazz, free jazz, and experimental music.