Jazz summer school receives 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Education Award

Announced on 26 July, the Original UK Jazz Summer School was awarded the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Education Award by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG).

Awards were also presented for categories including Jazz Vocalist of the Year, Jazz Ensemble of the Year, Jazz Newcomer of the Year and Services to Jazz.

Based at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD), the jazz summer school launched in 1966 in South Wales, and caters for students of all ages and abilities. As a result of the pandemic, the summer school moved online, offering year-round masterclasses, events and short courses, open to anyone around the world.

On winning the award, director Buster Birch told MT: ‘I was delighted to watch last night as our jazz summer school was announced as the winner of this year’s UK Parliamentary Jazz Education Award. It is a great recognition of all the work that so many people have put in for so many years to keep it going.

‘Our summer school is a very supportive community and our students come from all walks of life, united by their love of this wonderfully inclusive music. I really look forward each year to spending a week together sharing the incredibly positive experience that music and lifelong learning can give us.’ 

He added: ‘There are always so many great moments, but I particularly remember a lovely performance one year featuring our oldest student (age 97) singing a duet with our youngest student (age 8) which really summed it up for me. I have already received many lovely messages from our students, past and present, saying how pleased they are that we have been recognised with this award.’

Birch also thanked the late Dave Wickins, who directed the course for over 30 years and died of cancer two years ago, as well as Simon Purcell and Julian Nicholas. 

Chi Onwurah MP, deputy chair of APPJAG, said: ‘This has been another really strong year for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in terms of talent and nominations. The well deserved recipients are a veritable who’s who of names that have made a real impact on the music and helped make the UK one of the world’s leading jazz territories’. 

Jazz Newcomer of the Year was awarded to 24-year-old Jas Kayser, a drummer, composer, and band leader from the UK. 

The awards are organised with the support of PizzaExpress Live. 

www.theoriginalukjazzsummerschool.com