The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow has announced the winners of the prizes awarded annually to students on its jazz course at the end of the academic year.
Three jazz students – Drummer Roan Anderson, from Inverclyde, bass guitarist Chris Quinn, from East Kilbride, and guitarist Sam Cleary, from Cambridgeshire – share the £8500 Alan McAulay Award for Career Development
Drummer Dillon Barrie, from Perthshire, wins the George Duncan Award for Jazz Composition and a cash prize of £1000 and Sam Cleary also wins the award for Jazz Improvisation, which is sponsored by UK Jazz News contributor Mark McKergow and comes with a cash prize of £500.
“Dillon’s award for composition and Sam’s for improvisation reflect the high standard of their final recitals, which were judged by trombonist Dennis Rollins MBE and myself,” says RCS Head of Jazz, saxophonist Tommy Smith. “I’m extremely proud of all this year’s award winners. Looking ahead, we have an incredibly talented and diverse group of musicians – both male and female – coming through the programme. I’m confident many of them will be strong contenders for future awards.”
All four award winners are already experienced musicians. Roan Anderson has worked in both big bands and smaller ensembles and runs a successful online tuition business. Chris Quinn leads his own band, Niche Market, in which he sings as well as playing bass guitar. Sam Cleary has been wowing audiences with his expressive, extrovert guitar playing in the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra over the past two years and Dillon Barrie has added work as producer of hip hop and jazz fusion to his experience in youth orchestras and symphony orchestras and an appearance with world leading solo percussionist, Dame Evelyn Glennie.
“We’re grateful to our sponsors for their invaluable support,” says Tommy Smith. “George and Mark are real jazz enthusiasts, as was Alan, and the awards offer students, not just financial assistance but encouragement and a sense of achievement at this stage in their careers.”
