Australia’s National Jazz Awards Open to Vocalists

Australia’s National Jazz Awards, traditionally a jazz instrumental competition, will feature vocalists in its 2005 competition for the first time since 1998. The ten finalists will perform at the TAC Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, held Oct. 28-31 in Wangaratta, Australia.

The National Jazz Awards have been staged as part of the TAC Wangaratta Festival of Jazz since 1990 and have been sponsored by Wangaratta’s Bruck Textiles since 1997 and will be until at least 2009.

The competition is open to “high-level musicians of any nationality,” but must be no older than 35 as of Nov. 1. Entrants must submit a recording for the initial judging, which will be assessed by a three-member panel of pianist and composer Mike Nock and vocalists Michelle Nicolle and Anita Wardell. Ten finalists will perform at Wangaratta backed by a trio of pianist Mark Fitzgibbon, bassist Phil Stack and drummer Craig Simon. The winner will receive AU$6,000 and a recording session of ABC Classic FM’s “Jazztrack with Mal Stanley”; second place will receive AU$3,000; and third place will receive AU$1,500. Entries are due by May 30 and entry forms can be downloaded from the festival’s website at www.wangaratta-jazz.org.au.

Originally Published May 10, 2005