Rising Scottish tenor saxophonist Helena Kay has become the latest recipient of the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award.
The award, which is presented by Help Musicians UK, identifies emerging artists with promise and grants them £5,000 to help further their career.
Kay, from Perth, won the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of The Year Award in 2015 and is currently an artist fellow at Guildhall School. She will use the money to fund the costs of a debut album.
Additional development funds were given to three other artists – Olly Chalk, Faye MacCalman (Archipelago) and Jasmine Whalley (Tetes De Pois).
Last year, Help Musicians UK announced the Jazz Promoter Fellowship Programme in partnership with composer and gender equality campaigner Issie Barratt, with the aim of closing the identified gender gap in the sector.
The charity will celebrate women in jazz, with a show including Kay’s KIM Trio and Jasmine Whalley’s Tetes De Pois, alongside Laura Jurd, for Independent Venue Week at London’s 100 Club on 4 February.
See www.helpmusicians.org.uk for more information.
Claire Gevaux, Help Musicians UK creative director, said: ‘The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award is open to all and has been won by a diverse array of incredible British jazz talent. And this year is no exception, Helena Kay has an exciting future ahead of her.
‘Women are under-represented in jazz and through a series of programmes and initiatives including the Jazz Promoter Fellowship, Help Musicians UK will continue to work collaboratively to redress the gender imbalance by championing women in the music industry.’
The award, which is presented by Help Musicians UK, identifies emerging artists with promise and grants them £5,000 to help further their career.
Kay, from Perth, won the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of The Year Award in 2015 and is currently an artist fellow at Guildhall School. She will use the money to fund the costs of a debut album.
Additional development funds were given to three other artists – Olly Chalk, Faye MacCalman (Archipelago) and Jasmine Whalley (Tetes De Pois).
Last year, Help Musicians UK announced the Jazz Promoter Fellowship Programme in partnership with composer and gender equality campaigner Issie Barratt, with the aim of closing the identified gender gap in the sector.
The charity will celebrate women in jazz, with a show including Kay’s KIM Trio and Jasmine Whalley’s Tetes De Pois, alongside Laura Jurd, for Independent Venue Week at London’s 100 Club on 4 February.
See www.helpmusicians.org.uk for more information.
Claire Gevaux, Help Musicians UK creative director, said: ‘The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award is open to all and has been won by a diverse array of incredible British jazz talent. And this year is no exception, Helena Kay has an exciting future ahead of her.
‘Women are under-represented in jazz and through a series of programmes and initiatives including the Jazz Promoter Fellowship, Help Musicians UK will continue to work collaboratively to redress the gender imbalance by championing women in the music industry.’
