ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Lion City Youth Jazz Festival (LCYJF) was launched in 2017, with the aim of helping local youth musicians grow in depth and skill, and to welcome new musicians to join the burgeoning jazz scene in Singapore. With a focus on nurturing the talent and developing the skills of youth musicians under the tutelage of international jazz legends and prominent professional jazz musicians specially invited to be their mentors, the festival provides a professional-level immersive programme designed to allow the youth musicians to experience what it is like to rehearse and play at the highest levels of jazz performance.
The festival culminates in a Finale Concert open to the public, where the mentors will perform alongside the youth musicians selected for the programme and the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra (JASSYO!).
The previous LCYJF Finale Concerts have received much acclaim, with prominent jazz fans describing the concerts as “world-class jazz performances." This year’s festival will be extra special as we are holding it in conjunction with the 2021 commemoration of UNESCO International Jazz Day, which falls on 30 April and is the culmination of Jazz Appreciation Month in April.
This year’s Finale Concert repertoire featured the music of two jazz legends of swing, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Some of the songs featured are “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light” and “The Very Thought of You,” to name a few.
Because of the current COVID-19 restrictions, our international mentors and a few of our Singapore-based mentors joined us virtually in a hybrid concert, together with the rest of our local mentors and youths performed onstage at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC).
The Finale Concert was led by Music Director Jeremy Monteiro with Associate Music Director Weixiang Tan. The hybrid (live and virtual) concert stage featured outstanding youth musicians from the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra (JASSYO!) performing with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford, Solo Trumpeter and Leader of the Count Basie Orchestra, Scotty Barnhart, US-based jazz Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, Saxophonist Julian Chan (Malaysia), Guitarist Joe Darin (Thailand), and from Singapore, JASSYO! Senior Youth Leader and Flautist Rit Xu, Saxophonist Shawn Letts, Trombonist Regan Wickman and Drummer Tamagoh.
Also joining JASSYO! onstage were featured mentor and vocalist Alemay Fernandez, JASSYO! Youth Leader and Bassist John Koh, and our other mentor from Singapore, Trumpeter Benny Goh.
ABOUT THE MENTORS
Dubbed "Singapore's King of Swing", Cultural Medallion recipient, jazz pianist, composer and producer Jeremy Monteiro has garnered critical acclaim all over the world since helping to put Singapore in the world history of jazz in 1988, when he became the first Southeast Asian to play and lead a band of established international jazz musicians on the main stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival, performing as "Monteiro, Young & Holt and Friends"
Jeremy has performed and/or recorded with the likes of James Moody, Michael Brecker, Bobby McFerrin, Lee Ritenour, Hernie Mann, Paulinho DaCosta, Ernie Watts, Charlie Haden, Carmen Bradford, Matt Monro, Toots Thielemans and Simon & Garfunkel, to name a few. He has also played on the main stage of the EFG London Jazz Festival and is the only Southeast Asian jazz musician to have had an album released on the iconic Verve record label, "Jeremy Monteiro & Alberto Marsico - Jazz-Blues Brothers."
Jeremy has also released several albums through the years, including "Brazilian Dreams," "Montage," and "With A Little Help from My Friends." He released the album "Yesterday Once More - A Jazz Tribute to The Carpenters," in 2018. In September 2019, Jeremy released "Jeremy Monteiro and Friends: A Jazz Tribute to the Music of Stevie Wonder" with an album launch concert. In January 2021, Jeremy released “Live at No Black Tie Kuala Lumpur,” by Jeremy Monteiro, Jay Anderson & Lewis Nash.
Jeremy Monteiro
Music Director
Scotty Barnhart
Chief Mentor - US
Scotty Barnhart is an internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, author, producer, two-time Grammy winner, and Director of The Count Basie Orchestra. Prior to being selected Director in 2013, he was its featured trumpet soloist for 20 years, and in 2015 was Executive Producer of “A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas!,” the very first Christmas recording in the history of The Count Basie Orchestra. It went to No. 1 on the charts. Under his leadership, the orchestra won the Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll as the No. 1 Jazz Orchestra in the world for 2018, and their 2018 recording, “All About That Basie,” featuring special guest Stevie Wonder, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. Due for release in 2021 by The Count Basie Orchestra is “Live At Birdland,” also produced by Scotty.
Scotty appears on three critically acclaimed recordings with pianist Marcus Roberts and over twenty others with artists as diverse as Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, and Ray Charles. He has performed with Frank Sinatra, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Nat Adderley, Aretha Franklin, Barbara Streisand, George Benson, and many others, been featured in the Asian Wall Street Journal, performed at the Academy Awards, and is in demand as a soloist and lecturer on jazz history all over the world. In 2009, Unity Music released his solo CD, “Say It Plain.” It reached No. 3 on the Jazz Charts.
Scotty is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Florida Jazz and Blues Festival, and Professor of Jazz Trumpet with tenure at Florida State University, where two of his former students won first place in the National Jazz Trumpet Competition. His ground-
breaking book, "The World of Jazz Trumpet – A Comprehensive History and Practical Philosophy," was published in December 2005 to rave reviews. The updated and revised edition contains over 50 interviews with many of the most important Jazz trumpeters of the last 100 years and is due for completion. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University (FAMU) with a degree in Music Education, and in 2017 he was honoured as a distinguished alumnus with a permanent plaque and photo being placed within the Gallery of Distinction in the FAMU Department of Music. He has appeared as guest conductor and lecturer at such prestigious institutions at the Juilliard School of Music and others and is profiled in the book "Trumpet Kings," which places him among the greatest jazz trumpeters in history. In 2019, he formed The Scotty Barnhart Orchestra, with its debut performance being the Governor’s Inaugural Ball. Since 1989, he has played Monette trumpets and mouthpieces exclusively. He resides in Tallahassee, Florida.
Weixiang (“Wei”) is one of the young lions of the Singapore jazz scene. A latecomer to jazz, Wei started piano studies at 15, and jazz at 21 when he was in law school. A protégé of Thelonius Monk alumnus Victor Gaskin, Wei’s musical career skyrocketed after his first gig at a hotel lounge in Singapore two decades ago.
Wei’s piano-performance credits span major cities around the world, with the biggest names in jazz, including Grammy Award nominees and winners Brian Lynch, Stanley Jordan and Dave Samuels, to name a few. His playing has been lauded by piano virtuoso Jean-Michel Pilc as “ruthlessly inventive.” Wei's music is informed by a lifelong commitment to jazz knowledge and history, while being inspired by all things interesting and meaningful in life.
While Wei's work takes him around the world, he is deeply committed to community work. He has supported in depth many charitable associations with interests ranging from helping elephant orphans in Kenya, to supporting children with special needs in Singapore. Wei was named “New Yorker of the Week” in 2008 by news channel NY1, for his performances in homeless shelters.
As an academic, Wei taught as an adjunct professor in New York University and was a full-time lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts. Wei currently serves as Deputy Head of Music and Drama Company, overseeing a passionate team of talented artists and producers.
Weixiang Tan
Associate Music Director
Carmen Bradford
Mentor (Vocals) - US
2019 Grammy Nominee, Carmen Bradford, was born in Austin, Texas and raised in Altadena, California. Carmen Bradford grew up with music in her home and in her heart. It was only natural that Carmen would follow in the footsteps of her great family legacy being the daughter of legendary cornetist/composer Bobbie Bradford and world re-renown jazz vocalist/composer/author Melba Joyce. Her grandfather Melvin Moore sang with Lucky Millender and his Big Band; Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band in the 1940’s; and sang with the Ink Spots, making Carmen the third generation of incredible musicians. She has carved out a place in music history for herself and is playing an integral role in this uniquely American art form called jazz. Carmen Bradford is jazz royalty.
At the age of 22 years old, Carmen was discovered and hired by William “Count” Basie and was the featured vocalist in the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for nine years. She has since performed and/or recorded with; Wynton Marsalis, Jeremy Monteiro, Shelly Berg, John Clayton along with the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Doc Severinsen, Tony Bennett, James Brown, Willie Nelson, Tierney Sutton, Liz Wright, Andra Day, Patti Austin, Byron Stripling, Dori Caymmi, George Benson, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Kurt Elling, Jeff Tyzik, Freddie Cole, Benny Carter, Kenny Rankin, Lou Rawls, James Newton, David Murray, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Dani Felber and his Big Band, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, along with National Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Vancouver Philharmonic, Philadelphia Pops and countless artist around the world. Carmen performed on two Grammy Award winning albums with the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1980’s and later collaborated on a third Grammy Award winning album, “Big Boss Band” with guitarist George Benson in 1991. Her soulful voice warmed the hearts of the world through the celebrated performance of the classic duet, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” on the TONIGHT SHOW with Johnny Carson that same year.
At present, Carmen Bradford’s love for working with Big Bands and Symphony Orchestra across the world is keeping her very busy, as she pays tribute to the great Ella Fitzgerald in her show called “A Century of Ella” created and conducted by jazz great Jeff Tyzik. Carmen Bradford and the incredible trumpeter/vocalist, Byron Stripling also, also pay tribute to the greats in their show titled, “Ella and Louis” for which they’ve received rave reviews.
Carmen Bradford has never stopped performing with her Basie family, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. Even after all these years, Carmen has always said, “when they call me, I go.” She has never forgotten Mr. Basie who opened that wonderful door, and gave her wings. The 2019 Grammy Nominated album, “All About That Basie” with the Count Basie Orchestra conducted by Scotty Barnhart on Concord Records, featuring; Carmen Bradford, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Elling, Jamie Davis, Joey DeFrancesco, Jon Faddis, Wycliff Gordon, and Take 6. It just doesn’t get any better than this.
Carmen Bradford’s love of teaching has been recognized by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The new Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM Program) has welcomed Carmen with open arms as Professor of Jazz Voice, Director of Jazz Vocal Studies. Her body of work reflects a vast depth of musical experience and technical brilliance. She is also recognized for the overwhelming passion she brings to the lyric. Carmen Bradford has truly contributed to the perpetuation and preservation of this great American art form called jazz and continues to do so.
Hailed by MusicTalks Sydney as "One of the best Jazz Singers in the world", Singaporean vocalist Alemay Fernandez is a veteran performer in the Asian jazz scene. In her illustrious 20 year career, she has performed with David Foster, Gregory Porter, Incognito, Ray Parker Jr, Nat Adderley Jr, Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Antonio Hart, Jay Anderson, Lewis Nash, Gary Smulyan, Freddie Hendrix, Ed Cherry, Tommy Campbell, The Platters' Bobby Soul, William Close & The Earth Harp Collective and opened for Laura Fygi & Benny Golson. She has the distinction of being the only Asian singer to have performed with 3 of the top Jazz Orchestras in the world: Wynton Marsalis & The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra & The Duke Ellington Orchestra. She has sung for A-listers like Kevin Spacey, Ethan Hawke, Joss Stone, Kurt Elling, Lea Salonga, Paloma Picasso and Serena Williams. She has also been entertainment of choice for several visiting world leaders over the years including former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Alemay is known for her sultry tone, powerhouse vocals and an onstage presence that keeps the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. She tours internationally headlining at notable jazz venues and festivals worldwide. Her album of originals "Hard To Imagine" launched to a sold-out concert at the Esplanade in July 2016 to rave reviews. Since then, she has toured the album in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Colombo, Hanoi as well as a U.S. tour in the Summer of 2017 where she headlined at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in NY, an honour only a handful of Asian Jazz artistes have had.
Alemay Fernandez
Mentor (Vocals)
Alemay is in constant demand at home in Singapore, and has performed with all manner of Singapore orchestras and bands including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz Association of Singapore Orchestras. She enjoys performing with her mentors, Cultural Medallion winners, "Mad Chinaman" Dick Lee and Singapore's "King of Swing"Jeremy Monteiro, and is featured regularly in their shows and concerts both locally and internationally.
As an educator, she has worked with vocal students of all ages, conducting vocal and performance workshops. She is Vocal Coach for National University of Singapore Jazz Band and Lecturer at the Lasalle College Of The Arts Singapore. Alemay also serves as Jazz Ambassador for the Jazz at the Red Dot Workshop Series.
Alex Sipiagin
Mentor (Trumpet) - US
Jazz festivals worldwide have seen Alex Sipiagin performing with the likes of Dave Holland, Michael Brecker, the Mingus groups, and many more. Born on June 11, 1967 in Yaroslavl, Russia, Alex began studying the trumpet at age 12, at the Moscow Music Institute and the Gnesin Conservatory in Moscow where he received his Baccalaureate. In 1990, Alex participated in the International Louis Armstrong Competition sponsored by the Thelonius Monk Institute in Washington DC, winning top honors. He has since relocated to New York City.
Very soon, Alex became a favoured player for various bands including the Gil Evans Orchestra, Gil Goldstein's Zebra Coast Orchestra, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, drummer Bob Moses' band Mozamba, the Mingus Big Band as well as the Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra, and the Dave Holland Big Band, Sextet and Octet groups.
In 2003 he recorded with Michael Brecker'sQuindectet, touring also with the Michael Brecker Sextet. Alex has also worked with Eric Clapton, DrJohn, Aaron Neville, Elvis Costello, Michael Franks, Dave Sanborn, Deborah Cox, legendary producer Phil Ramone, Gonzalo Rubalcaba among other artistes. Many of the recordings he has been involved in have been nominated for and/or won at the Grammy Awards. He is part of the Grammy award-winning albums by the Dave Holland Big Band, “What Goes Around” and “Overtime,” Michael Brecker Quindectet’s “Wide Angles,” and most recently the Dafnis Prieto Big Band’s “Into the Sunset”.
As a soloist, Sipiagin has more than twenty recordings to his credit including having jazz greats such as Mulgrew Miller and Chris Potter featured in them. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Asia and Russia with his own group. He holds a professorship at New York University (NYU), and has residencies at the Amsterdam Conservatory and Academy of Music in Basel Switzerland.
Alex Sipiagin has recorded 15 solo albums for the prestigious jazz label “CrissCrossJazz," including an album of his compositions and arrangements "Balance 38-58" featuring noted musicians such as Eric Harland, David Binney, Adam Rogers and Matt Brewer. His recent album titled “Moments Captured” features notable musicians Chris Potter, Eric Harland, John Escreet, Matt Brewer, Will Vinson and the up-and-coming Alina Engibaryan. September 2018 saw the production of Alex’s newest album titled “NoFo Skies,” which was released in April last year, reprising the same artists from “Moments Captured.” In end 2020, Alex recorded another solo album titled “Upstream” with the Positone Label, featuring a mix of his new original compositions, originals by his band members Art Hirahara, Boris Kozlov, Rudy Royston and standards from Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter and Mulgrew Miller.
Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Julian has been an active performer, sessionist, and educator in the Malaysian and regional music scene since 2001. He graduated with a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College in New York, where he studied with jazz greats Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman, (the late) Prof. Howard Brofsky and David Berkman.
Julian has performed with both Malaysian and international artistes (both jazz and of other styles) such as Michael Veerapen (MY), Jeremy Monteiro (SG), Koh Mr. Saxman (THAI), Laura Fygi, Carmen Bradford (US), James Morrison (AUS), Eugene Pao (HK), Isao Miyoshi (JP), Tony Lakatos (GER), Jonathan Lee 李宗盛 (Taiwan), Jeff Chang 张信哲 (Taiwan), Sheila Majid (MY), James Flynn (AUS), Anthony Strong (UK), Claude Diallo (Switzerland/NY). He has also shared the stage with many prominent musicians such as Antonio Hart, Randy Brecker, Fritz Renold, Christian Jacobs, Tony Lakatos, Helen Sung, Carmen Bradford (from the Count Basie Orchestra), vocalist Kenny Washington, and Bobby Watson. Julian has also performed in many festivals including Java Jazz Festival, Macau Jazz Festival, SingJazz International Jazz Festival, ASEAN Jazz Festival (Malaysia), EFG London Jazz Festival, Penang International Jazz Festival, Borneo International Jazz Festival, Hua Hin International Jazz Festival.
Julian has established himself as a prominently versatile saxophonist in the country, and has performed with many different music settings (from jazz to symphonic music) such as WVC - Malaysian Jazz Ensemble, RTM Orchestra/Big Band, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonic Winds of Malayia Q Sound, The Lawrence Wright Ensemble; whilst having performed in
Julian Chan
Mentor (Saxophone) - Malaysia
musicals such as “LAT Kampung Boy”, “SuperMokh”, and many others. He has recorded in several instrumental and vocal albums with some of these ensembles as well as commercial recordings since the beginning of his music career. He has also performed in several big bands in the region such as the Jazz Association of Singapore Orchestra (JASSO), MPO Big Band (performing with Laura Fygi), Brass Explosion All Star Big Band featuring James Morrison. In 2018, Julian formed his own big band - the Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra (JCJO) and made their debut performance at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre in September 2018.
Julian is also an active educator in Malaysia. Aside from being an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of Music, UCSI University and running his own saxophone studio, Julian has participated in many educational activities, giving workshops/masterclasses in schools and other institutions.
Julian is a Yanagisawa Saxophones artiste.
Rit Xu
Mentor (Flute)
Rit was raised in multi-cultural Singapore in a musical family. His late father was a professional musician who gave him a head start by exposing him to all genres of Western music, alongside traditional music influences from his mother. His love for jazz was sealed at age 16 when he heard the late great trumpeter Lee Morgan playing “Blue Train” on a famous John Coltrane album. Even though it was on the trumpet, Rit was determined to learn and play the music on his instrument of choice- the flute.
Rit Xu burst onto the Singapore jazz scene in 2011 after winning the Thailand International Jazz Solo Competition. An award-winning flutist, composer, educator and recording artist, he has been gaining international recognition for his lyrical, thoughtful and introspective musical voice on the flute since he won the National Flute Association (NFA) Jazz Artist Competition in 2014, making him the first Southeast Asian to win a solo jazz competition in the United States.
While Rit is an honours graduate in classical flute performance from the famed Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore, it is his keen focus on shaping improvised melodies drawing influence from notable trumpeters, saxophonists and practitioners of the jazz tradition, that makes him an instantly recognisable performer.
In recent years, he was prominently featured with the Swiss Youth Jazz Orchestra at the annual Jazzaar Festival led by jazz stalwart Fritz K Renold. He also made his debut with the Asian Youth Jazz Orchestra’s inaugural performances in Southeast Asia
In addition, Rit is an integral sideman with jazz icon Jeremy Monteiro and a key member of the Lorong Boys, a classical-pop fusion group which shot to fame on social media with their humorous and light-hearted juxtaposition of classical music and top-40 hits.
Rit is also a first-call flutist in the studio recording scene, bringing with him a wealth of experience inside the recording booth laying down flute tracks to television commercials, films, video games, documentaries, and pop music albums since the age of nine. He played all the flute solos in the soundtrack of Taiwanese movie, “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,” which won the 48th Golden Horse Award for best original film score.
With support from the JASS Scholarship programme, Rit has completed his Master's at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College NY.
John Koh, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, is a jazz double bass player and composer. He is also the first recipient of the Jazz Association Singapore (JASS) international scholarship under its JASS Music Scholarship programme.
John’s pursuit of music began when he first picked up the bass at the age of 13, while living in Shanghai. He soon joined his middle school orchestra and not long after was selected by blind audition to travel to Vienna to perform at the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Honor Orchestra Festival. He was then selected for every consecutive year to perform at the annual AMIS festivals and ended up playing at seven global-scale youth music events, performing at festivals held in Waterloo, Shanghai, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Beijing, and Singapore.
While in high school, John lived in Tokyo, where he formed his own trio and performed at local jazz clubs. Upon his graduation in 2015, he returned to Singapore to enlist in the Singapore Armed Forces to serve his mandatory conscription. During his time in the military, John recorded in Singaporean pianist Weixiang Tan’s album, “Wei III.” It was also during this time that he performed at the first and second Lion City Jazz Festivals, the first featuring legendary jazz saxophonist, Benny Golson, and the second featuring legendary trumpeter, Randy Brecker.
In 2018, John became the first recipient of the JASS Music Scholarship programme, when he was awarded the JASS Music Scholarship (Overseas) to study towards a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies. He enrolled at the Berklee College of Music under the mentorship of bassists Michael Pope and John Lockwood, and drummer, Ralph Peterson, who handpicked John to play alongside him at the Bern Jazz Festival in 2019.
John Koh
Mentor (Double Bass)
During his time at Berklee, John also played in Jason Palmer’s band every week for a period of time. He has also recorded in Malaysian pianist Foo Jeng Wong’s debut album, “Quiet Night Thoughts.”
Throughout John’s musical career, he has been under the mentorship of Singaporean jazz pianist and Cultural Medallion recipient, Jeremy Monteiro.
John’s philosophy toward all his musical endeavors and productions are to give God all the glory in everything that he does.
OTHER MENTORS
Tamagoh
Mentor (Drums)
Regan Wickman
Mentor (Trombone)
Joe Darin
Mentor (Guitar)
Shawn Letts
Mentor (Saxophone)
Benny Goh
Mentor (Trumpet)
AUDITIONS
(APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.)
Prerequisites
1. JAZZ PROFICIENCY
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Working knowledge of music theory
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Competent ability on chosen instrument
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A good level of jazz improvisation
2. AGE REQUIREMENTS
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Applicant must be below 35 years of age on 19 Apr 2021
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Applicants below 18 years of age must seek parental consent
Audition Information
3. NATIONALITY & LOCAL RESIDENCY
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Must be Singaporeans, PRs or legal residents
4. COMMITMENT TO SCHEDULED DATES
Applicants should not have any known conflicts with the Lion City Youth Jazz Festival 2021 audition, rehearsals, workshops, soundcheck and performance dates as follows:
Audition Date:
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Mon, 5 Apr 2021
Festival Rehearsals, Workshops, Soundcheck and Performance Dates:
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Mon, 19 Apr 2021 - Sat, 24 Apr 2021
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All instruments including vocals, to improvise 1 chorus over Bb blues.
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There will be a shortlisting, and thereafter, auditionees will be required to sight-read a score (for instrumentalists) given at the virtual audition, which is scheduled for 5 Apr 2021.
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At the virtual audition, auditionees will be also expected to improvise 2 choruses over one of the following songs:
Audition Components
GENERAL MUSIC PROFICIENCY
Candidate will perform a song of his/her choosing to demonstrate a general music and instrument proficiency.
SHEET READING
Candidate will be required to play a song from sheet music provided on the day of the audition.
JAZZ IMPROVISATION
Candidate will improvise over a blues tune with a backing band.
Please submit an online application form by Fri, 2 April 2021, 6pm.
Date of Audition: Mon, 5 April 2021
Auditions will be held virtually over Zoom. JASS will notify successful applicants of audition through email by 3 April 2021.
Applicants selected to perform at the Lion City Youth Jazz Festival 2021 will be notified on 7 April 2021. Festival rehearsals will commence from 19 April - 24 April 2021.
Please read the information listed under "Prerequisites" to ensure you are eligible to apply for the audition, and subsequently perform should you be a successful candidate.
FINALE CONCERT
This year’s Finale Concert repertoire featured the music of two jazz legends of swing, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Some of the songs featured are “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light” and “The Very Thought of You,” to name a few.
Because of the current COVID-19 restrictions, our international mentors and a few of our Singapore-based mentors joined us virtually in a hybrid concert, together with the rest of our local mentors and youths who performed onstage at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC).
The Finale Concert was led by Music Director Jeremy Monteiro with Associate Music Director Weixiang Tan. The hybrid (live and virtual) concert stage featured outstanding youth musicians from the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra (JASSYO!) performing with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford, Solo Trumpeter and Leader of the Count Basie Orchestra, Scotty Barnhart, US-based jazz Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, Saxophonist Julian Chan (Malaysia), Guitarist Joe Darin (Thailand), and from Singapore, JASSYO! Senior Youth Leader and Flautist Rit Xu, Saxophonist Shawn Letts, Trombonist Regan Wickman and Drummer Tamagoh.
Also joining JASSYO! onstage were featured mentor and vocalist Alemay Fernandez, JASSYO! Youth Leader and Bassist John Koh, and our other mentor from Singapore, Trumpeter Benny Goh.
In the spirit of celebrating UNESCO International Jazz Day which falls on 30 April and is the culmination of April being Jazz Appreciation Month, the concert was also live-streamed free via JASS Facebook and YouTube channels.
WORKSHOPS
(Open to Public)
Workshop 1 - Difference Between Singing with a Big Band vs. a Small Ensemble by Carmen Bradford
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2021
Time: 8pm - 9pm SGT (GMT+8)
Venue: Online Platform
Workshop 2 - The Tradition of the Big Band by Scotty Barnhart
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2021
Time: 8pm - 9pm SGT (GMT+8)
Venue: Online Platform
Workshop 3 - How to Create a Beautiful Aesthetic In Your Solo by Alex Sipiagin
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2021
Time: 8pm - 9pm SGT (GMT+8)
Venue: Online Platform
For any further enquiries or assistance regarding LCYJF or the auditions, please email info@jazzassociation.sg or call +65 6741 0337 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).