TWO Maleny State High School students have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2021 Youth ‘n’ Jazz bursary award, hosted by the Sunshine Coast Jazz Club.
Shelby Johnson and Emily Davies are set to showcase their talents along with six other emerging high school jazz enthusiasts at a special performance and presentation afternoon at the Caloundra Power Boat Club on Saturday, August 28.
Year 12 student Shelby said she was excited to be able to enter this year following the cancellation of the 2020 bursary. A member of the school’s music excellence program, Shelby is also a member of local act Accidentally on Purpose. This is the second time she has been nominated as a finalist for this award.
“Jazz is my passion and I hope to have a future career in music,” Shelby said.
“Although this event is a competition, it is also a celebration of performing and our love of jazz music.”
Emily, a year 11 student, said she had only become interested in jazz over the past 12 months. Although she always enjoyed listening to jazz, her training for the past three years was in classical and opera singing.
Emily comes from a musical family and initially developed an interest in singing jazz after being invited to perform at a local church jazz concert.
“This opportunity to perform jazz compositions and be a finalist is not something I would normally do, so it really is just for fun, which for me is the best feeling when you are singing,” Emily said.
The Youth ‘n’ Jazz 2021 showcase is open to the public. It kicks off at 1.30pm with family tickets available for $20, adults $10 and students $5.
Bookings can be made online at https://sunshinecoastjazzclub.net.au/index.php/new-events
For more details contact Richard on 0427 782 960 or Julie on 0412 789 957.
Main Photo: Shelby Johnson and Emily Davies
