8 November 2017
Emma Stephenson the 2017 Freedman Jazz Fellow
Image: Emma Stephenson at the Freedman Finalists' concert on 30 October The winner of the $20,000 Freedman Jazz Fellowship 2017 is pianist-composer Emma Grace Stephenson. The announcement was made after the finalists' play-off at the Freedman Jazz concert at the Sydney Opera House on 30 October. Emma appeared with her band, the Hieronymus Trio, featuring Oli Nelson (drums) and Nick Henderson (bass), and Kristin Berardi as guest vocalist.
Originally from Sydney and since very recently based in New York City, Emma Stephenson will be using her prize to fund a recording project in New York, featuring her compositions for voice and piano trio. She will also be working on two online projects: a podcast and a music distribution platform she is developing together with her father. (Listen to a backstage interview with the winner on Soundcloud, courtesy of ABC.)
The other two finalists this year were both trumpeters: Ellen Kirkwood performed her own compositions with the Sirens (mostly female) big band, and Nick Garbett appeared with his co-led band, the Vampires. Judges in 2017 were Mike Nock, Phillip Johnston and Stu Hunter.
> More information about the Freedman Jazz and Classical Fellowships (http://musictrust.com.au).
> Emma Stephenson's homepage (https://www.emmagracestephensonmusic.com/)
© Australian Music Centre (2017) — Permission must be obtained from the AMC if you wish to reproduce this article either online or in print.
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