https://www.jrma.com.au/news daily 0.75 2025-11-20 https://www.jrma.com.au/news/abc-jazztrack-live-broadcast-of-the-20th-anniversary-concert-29-november-4-pm monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/184e1484-b428-41bb-b8a4-b0c8a3bcb5e0/JRMA-20th-anniversary-concert.jpg NEWS - ABC Jazztrack Live broadcast of the 20th anniversary concert 29 November 4 pm - Make it stand out Jann Rutherford Memorial Award Alumini Band 2025 | l-r Alex Silver trombone, Hannah James co-leader, bass, Jess Green co-leader, guitar, Jodie Michael drums, Lauren Tsamouras piano, Ellen Kirkwood trumpet | Image courtesy of ABC Jazz https://www.jrma.com.au/news/20th-birthday-celebration monthly 0.5 2025-09-13 https://www.jrma.com.au/news/jazz-pianist-and-composer-lauren-tsamouras-wins-2025-jann-rutherford-memorial-award monthly 0.5 2025-06-29 https://www.jrma.com.au/home daily 1.0 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/184e1484-b428-41bb-b8a4-b0c8a3bcb5e0/JRMA-20th-anniversary-concert.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584493713917-FSM3F823TFME0H4C3XFN/d17a9d0921ecebd58445a8a926f0d767.jpg Home - JANN RUTHERFORD Jann Rutherford, the jazz pianist, composer, teacher and poet who had been a prominent and unique musical force in Australia and New Zealand, died of cancer at the age of 38. Her fight with the cancer diagnosed on her tongue and lymph gland was the final chapter in a life studded with a bravery that bordered on heroism, although Rutherford herself would have been quick to dismiss such an assertion. Blind from birth, she pursued the zero-security, artistically high-risk career of the jazz musician, moved by herself from New Zealand to Sydney to further this career, eked out a living and confronted her cancer and its treatment with typical optimism and courage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/bf16c04c-a984-45d2-b3c2-e6e67cc75123/250530_LAUREN_PORTRAIT_1166-web.jpg Home - 2025 JRMA winner - Lauren Tsamouras The Jann Rutherford Memorial Award is delighted to announce pianist, composer and improviser Lauren Tsamouras as the recipient of the 2025 award. Based in Sydney/Warrang, Lauren has been an active contributor to the Australian jazz community for the past eight years, performing with artists including Hannah James (2011 JRMA winner and leader of Pharos), Matt Ottignon, Hinano Fujisaki and Clayton Thomas, and leading her own contemporary jazz duo, Another Green World, alongside bassist Harry Birch. With the support of JRMA, Lauren will develop and record a second album of original compositions, tour regionally in NSW, and undertake professional development in Greece. Her plans include collaborating with Greek musicians, incorporating traditional instruments and scales, and strengthening ties between Australian and Greek jazz communities. Read the full announcement > Image credit: Anne Peeters Photography Connect with Lauren Instagram @laurentsamouras https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584502987196-8X1X400PQC86GIULEXII/sirens_1+copy.jpg Home - PREVIOUS WINNERS Trombonist: Alex Silver, Guitarist: Jess Green, Drummer: Ali Foster, Bassist: Hannah James, Saxophonist: Harri Harding & bassist: Jessica Dunn*(The JRMA award facilitated the creation of Sirens Big Band), Trumpeter: Ellen Kirkwood, Drummer :Jodie Michael Pianist :Emma Grace Stephenson, Guitarist: Hilary Geddes, Guitarist, Lucy Gifford https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/53a76c5f-6b8e-405d-bb63-4fa3d64e278f/Video+thumbnail.jpg https://www.jrma.com.au/theaward daily 0.75 2025-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584925793096-MAST46GG873C0HKRVMWE/Emma+Stephenson%C2%A9Karen+Steains-6943BW+copy.jpg The Award - ABOUT THE AWARD EMMA GRACE STEPHENSON, AFTER BEING AWARDED THE JANN RUTHERFORD MEMORIAL AWARD IN 2016 WENT ON TO WIN A FREEDMAN FELLOWSHIP IN 2017 https://www.jrma.com.au/previous-winners daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584510415429-0N20X5VGCD3PVF5DNNPI/hannah+james.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Hannah James, bass 2011 During 2011 I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award for young women in jazz. Throughout the course of the award I gained extremely valuable experience, guidance and performance opportunities which I firmly believe have aided my development and prospects of a successful career in music. As a young female musician fresh out of music school one of the most valuable aspects for me of the JRMA was providing clear goals and musical direction under the guidance of very experienced industry professionals. Having only just moved to a new city I was able to form my own band of high quality musicians, already able to offer quality performance opportunities and a recording thanks to the award. I believe this helped secure the full support and commitment to the project of the musicians, which can be difficult when working with quality players with busy schedules. These have now developed into valuable friendships and ongoing professional relationships. Website: hannahjames.com Facebook: @HannahJamesAU Instagram: @contra_basso Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584579528355-RRV6465R2A75OTJQ0H6M/Jodie+Michael-%C2%AEKaren+Steains-3810.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Jodie Michael, drummer 2013 The JRMA provided an immeasurable and beneficial boost to my career as a young female jazz drummer in the developing stages of her career, about six years ago. I was able to perform at many established entertainment venues to receptive audiences around Australia and record an EP of my original project in a world-class studio. This was an invaluable learning and professional boon and I, to this day, do not take for granted the fortune that continually stems from this honour. The subsequent opportunities that also flowered from being such a recipient were equally as important and formative to my artistic trajectory in the following years. I hope this award can be continually maintained to assist young women in their career, helping to bring forth the potential of such artists in the future. This will contribute to an improved and more fertile arts and entertainment culture in Australia and, furthermore, around the globe! Instagram: @jodiemichael Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584926521928-N8DCD8AVB7ZBT60NXI1S/Ellen%2BKirkwood%2540Karen%2BSteains-7902.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Ellen Kirkwood, trumpeter and composer 2012 In January 2012, when I received news that I was the recipient of the 2012 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award, I was simultaneously ecstatic, overwhelmed and a little scared. All of a sudden, a bunch of amazing opportunities had been given to me, but I knew that to make the most of them, and be satisfied with what I had done, there was a lot of work ahead of me. I also had to tackle some unfamiliar territory – such as transporting a band to a different city and finding accommodation for them, working out a budget, and getting an album of my own made. I can't say enough how honoured I am to have received the 2012 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award. This has truly been an amazing year for me in so many ways. I've learnt so much and grown as a musician and also as a person, particularly in my own confidence and belief in myself. Since I received the Award, I feel I've gained recognition and respect in the Sydney jazz (and other related styles) communities. I think it's important for emerging musicians to have some sort of “boost” to help them receive recognition early on, whether it be from an award like this, or from other more respected musicians who see their potential and help them out. In this sense (and many others) the award is achieving its purpose by showing the world that there are many talented, creative and strong young women jazz musicians in our country, who deserve more recognition. Website: ellenkirkwood.com Instagram: @ellen_c_k Bandcamp: ellenkirkwood.bandcamp.com Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584504435520-UBS9WC6SFJWGVC7KRZT2/Jess+Green.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Jess Green, guitarist, 2006 I was very honoured to receive the award, and the funds were timely, as I was trying to put together my first regional tour for my ensemble. The tour was of immeasurable benefit towards developing some new repertoire I had written and getting it to a standard ready for recording. Also important was the opportunity for the band members (all very busy musicians individually) to work together several days in succession. As well as this to be able to pay the band properly, provide Per diem’s and comfortable accommodation was a great way to thank them for many unpaid rehearsals, and low paid gigs they’ve done for me over the last 3 years, a great tool for raising overall band moral! The award was presented by well-known sax/clarinet player Paul Cutlan at my first SIMA concert held at the Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Sydney. This was a very well attended concert not only by SIMA audience but also by important members of the arts community including Kate Lidbetter from the Australia Council and Amy Rowe from Arts NSW. This concert was an important step forward for me as SIMA is a world recognized arts organization that has been supporting original Australian Jazz for many years. Website: jessgreen.com.au Instagram: @greensbeansjazz Facebook: @JessGreenMusic Bandcamp: jessgreensbrightsparks.bandcamp.com Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1610332518461-FNZFLED8XYAWISO99P3R/Alex%2BSilver.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Alex Silver, trombonist 2005 Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584505788640-QLJB8NTNWNH0LKSDVW49/Jess+%26+Harri+BB_KSP5196COL.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Jessica Dunn, bass and Harri Harding, saxophone Sirens Big Band 2010 From start to end of our experience with the award, we learnt so much. Even the initial application was a great learning process, because it was so helpful in cementing our ideas of what we wanted to achieve, and also how to realistically go about that. What we learnt during this process has been used since for applications to the Australia Council of the Arts for further funding. Through the awards’ support, both financial and non-financial, we were able to get the push that so many bands and musicians don’t have when starting their careers. We have also learnt so much about the non-musical aspects of functioning as a jazz band at a professional level; booking gigs, quoting and negotiating fees, inviting press to performances, doing press interviews – as well as all the administrative aspects of running an ensemble. At the beginning of this process we felt as though we were fumbling around, trying to find our way, when now we certainly feel a lot clearer about what is required. Because of this award we have had the opportunity to work closely with some wonderful musicians and educators in the context of band rehearsals and improvisation workshops. These include; Sandy Evans, James Greening, Judy Bailey and Lisa Parrott. Sirens Big Band Website: sirensbigband.com Instagram: @sirensbigband Facebook: @sirensbigband Bandcamp: sirensbigband.bandcamp.com Harri Harding Website: heyharri.com Instagram: @heyharri.music Jessica Dunn Website: jessicadunn.com.au Instagram: @sister_bun Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584504915683-5M40FGB4ZGS2MLLXLW3R/Ali+08+c.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Ali Foster, drummer, 2007 Ali Foster is an outstanding young jazz drummer based in Sydney, Australia. She combined her degree course in Jazz Studies with a busy life as an emerging professional player and teacher. Ali has a particular interest in sparking a passion for exploring jazz styles in younger audiences in the Greater Sydney area. She and her musical collaborators engage their audiences by employing elements of progressive rock, funk and blues into their jazz tunes while also highlighting a focus on the musical interactions between them. Ali began to develop her musical talents when she started piano lessons as a child of five. By early high school, the lure of the household's drum kit, previously the domain of her father and brother, proved irresistible! Her acceptance two years later into the St Paul's Grammar School big band cemented her ambition to make jazz drumming her profession. In the years prior to her acceptance as a student in the prestigious Jazz Studies degree course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney; Ali participated in the SIMA Improvisation Workshops for Young Women, directed by Sandy Evans; and she was named as the winner of the Senior Secondary division of the Billy Hyde Drumoff competition. Currently, Ali leads the Ali Foster Quartet, which features Kayne Jansen (guitar), Hal Strewe (bass) and Brendan Berlach (saxophones). Instagram: @alifosterdrums Facebook: Ali Foster Drums Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584579815480-SPXTO7A5HT1BE3OBBYZB/Emma+Stephenson%C2%A9Karen+Steains-6748.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Emma Grace Stephenson, pianist, 2016 Thank you for facilitating an immensely helpful and productive experience for me. I feel that sharing the stage and recording studio with Gian Slater helped Hieronymus Trio to expand our musical palette and form new and exciting modes of improvising. I deeply value the knowledge that I have gained from writing and arranging music for this lineup, as well as being able to extend myself pianistically underneath the additional texture of vocals. In addition to my musical development, the award has also been a rewarding professional development experience as I have been interviewed by radio hosts, become less camera-shy, and made new connections with people who I am confident I may reach out to in the future. I am thrilled with the new album and am looking forward to sharing it with both my immediate community, and the wider community of jazz listeners. Facebook: @emmagracestephensonmusic Bandcamp: emmastephenson.bandcamp.com Photo credit: Karen Steains https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/f78885dc-e438-40b3-8daf-d4c3a4570162/Lucy+Clifford PREVIOUS WINNERS - Lucy Clifford, guitarist, 2022 I am forever grateful to the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and its contributors for the consistent support, guidance and invaluable opportunities this award has provided. It has without a doubt contributed to my development and recognition as a composer here in Sydney, and has given me the opportunity to connect with the jazz and improvised music community. It really has meant so much to me personally, to be able to configure a band of my own and perform under my own name as an Artist as part of some incredible music series and festivals (Wollongong Jazz Series, SIMA Summer Series, and the Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival). This has been a goal of mine for a long time, and thanks to the support of this award, I was able to bring this goal to fruition. Financially, the JRMA has assisted me in getting into the studio to record and release a single, and also opened the door to record a full length album at ABC studios in Sydney as part of their scholarship opportunity, something I never in my wildest dreams imagined would be possible. Receiving this award gave me confidence at a time when I think I needed it most, to take the plunge and share these musical stories I’ve held onto for a long time, and I can’t wait to see how this award shapes its future recipients paths. Biggest thank you to Liz, Sandy and this awards many contributors for significantly influencing my musical journey. Website: lucycliffordmusic.com Instagram: @lucyjclifford Bandcamp: lucyclifford.bandcamp.com Image credit: Camille Walsh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1607926324058-D1ZGLJP07O7T45NHIIB3/a8ff2ffb-4cd3-40c6-be07-0088fd20fcc6.jpg PREVIOUS WINNERS - Hilary Geddes, guitarist, 2019 Being the 2019 recipient of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award has irrevocably changed my life. It provided me with myriad of fantastic opportunities for which I am so, so grateful. The JRMA has enabled me to form my own band - under my own name - and facilitated me to begin writing for this project. The result, one year on after receiving this award has been the recording of our debut album, Parkside, which we hope to release in 2021. We have also continued to perform, in spite of everything that has happened this year - from our debut at the SIWJF to performing in Melbourne at the MWIJF in 2019, to receiving broader recognition through a positive review by John Shand of our livestream performance that was recorded by the inimitable Peter Nelson.The JRMA was the catalyst for what is a continued creative relationship with SIMA, which has resulted not only in my involvement in exciting projects such as the Tura Adapts: 2020 No Borders Commission, but also in slightly more left-field opportunities, culminating in me performing with Tim Minchin at his album launchlivestream event earlier in November. Aside from giving me the time, space, confidence and financial backing to write, play and record music under my own name, I am also greatly indebted to the JRMA for their support in terms of promotion and interviews. I believe that being the recipient of the JRMA has been instrumental putting my name out in the fantastic communities that are the Australian jazz and improvised music worlds. I have been privileged to be part of projects this year and I firmly believe that my involvement was resultant of the JRMA - people learnt about my music and who I am through the promotional opportunities that the JRMA gave me. This extends to a continued relationship with the ever-supportive ABC Jazz team. Quite simply, I am still so thrilled to have been the 2019 recipient of the JRMA and I am still very much benefiting greatly from receiving this award. For this, I am so very thankful to you, Liz and Sandy, and of course, the Mietta Foundation and the private donors for making this award possible. Website: hilarygeddes.com Instagram: @hilary.geddes Bandcamp: hilarygeddes.bandcamp.com Photo credit: Camille Walsh https://www.jrma.com.au/jannrutherford daily 0.75 2025-06-16 https://www.jrma.com.au/current-winner daily 0.75 2025-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/45c6a710-3a53-4f53-ab37-da880c410062/Lauren+Tsamouras%2C+2025+JRMA+winner https://www.jrma.com.au/fsupporters daily 0.75 2021-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584580464470-U9J4CKH2OWXQ9XG80OV9/Sandy-Evans_KSP750-681x1024.jpg Supporters - Dr Sandy Evans OAM Chair of JRMA, Dr Sandy Evans OAM is an internationally renowned composer and saxophonist with a passion for improvisation and new music. She has played with and written for some of the most important groups in Australian jazz since the early 1980s, toured extensively in Australia, Europe, Canada and Asia, and been featured on over 40 albums. Sandy leads the Sandy Evans Trio and Sextet, and co-led Clarion Fracture Zone and GEST8. She is a member of Mara!, The catholics, Ten Part Invention and austraLYSIS. Sandy has a keen interest in Indian classical music and collaborates with Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani, Sarangan Sriranganathan and Bobby Singh. She has performed with many leading jazz musicians including Andrea Keller, Paul Grabowsky, Silke Eberhard, Ingrid Jensen, Judy Bailey, Han Bennink and Terri Lyne Carrington. In 2019 Sandy was inducted into the Australian Jazz Bell Awards Hall of Fame. Sandy is an experienced teacher and inaugurated a Jazz Improvisation Course for Young Women run annually by SIMA. Sandy is a Lecturer in Music at UNSW. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584580676758-CBU3TTISUQWZ2IQDHGR0/Liz.png Supporters - Dr Liz Bowen Administrator, Liz Bowen has worked in the Not-for profit sector for over more than twenty years. She has worked as a Communications Manager, Editor of a monthly community magazine as well as supporting various ensembles and artists, Ten Part Invention being one large ensemble and trombonist, James Greening one artist. She also volunteers at the Varuna Writer’s House in Katoomba. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1584581812101-LVCRA2EGMSF4LDZBIHGF/miettaLogo2.jpg Supporters - The Mietta Foundation The Mietta Foundation was established to perpetuate the work and memory of Mietta O’Donnell and to celebrate her life by enhancing the spirit and energy of cultural life in this country. In addition to supporting the Mietta Song Competition the Mietta Foundation established a series of forums and conversations about food, books, the arts and social engagement issues including diplomacy, culture, economics and the environment. It now supports a range of arts and cultural activities and organisations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1607924778106-9KN9KEMAARG8AEZILCDY/SIMA_Logo_RGB-1.png Supporters - SIMA SIMA is a non-profit contemporary jazz organisation dedicated to facilitating performance, education and new work creation for Australian jazz since 1984. SIMA has continuously supported JRMA, including hosting the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival annually where our JRMA Award recipient is billed to perform and often when a formal presentation is made to the winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1610425620177-RHTQ172WMCEZ7WWIL044/JMS+Bio+pic.jpg Supporters - Joan Spiller Joan Spiller – CSC Australia Board Joan Spiller has decades of experience at Board level in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Her Board Directorships have included the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Victorian Rehabilitation Centre, Monash IVF, Monash Ultrasound, Monash Reproductive Pathology and Genetics, Commonwealth Study Conference – Australia, and Flower & Samios Architects (Chair). In the arts sector, she chaired the Australian Art Orchestra for ten years, and is Secretary/Treasurer of the Mietta Foundation, and Deputy Chair of West Space Gallery. She has been a Member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Board and a Trustee of the Melbourne Symphony Foundation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7022f5f31b456a51ca28c4/1610426124508-8Y4QDGBBHI5W783W2BG4/miwj.jpg Supporters - MWIJF The Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival is a festival which encourages and supports women as jazz musicians, and composers. https://www.jrma.com.au/donate daily 0.75 2021-01-22