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Australian Jamie Oehlers Wins White Foundation World Sax Competition at Montreux
Australian tenor saxophone virtuoso Jamie Oehlers won the White Foundation World Sax Competition at this year’s Montreux Jazz Festival. There were sixty entrants from all over the world, and this year's semi- finalists included players from Australia, Denmark, Holland, Hungary, the USA and Scotland, and the youngest player in the contest was just fourteen. As well as Charles Lloyd, the judges included Bruce Lundvall of Blue Note Records, saxophonists George Robert and Jean Toussaint, Alyn Shipton of the BBC and last year's winner Soweto Kinch together with competition founder, philanthropist and entrepreneur Jeremy White.
After three evenings of intense semi-finals, the final came down to Jamie Oehlers and Willow Nielson from Australia, Xavier Perez from the United States, and Paul Towndrow from Scotland. All met with an incredible response from the capacity audience at the competition's new home, the lakeside
concert hall of the Petit Palais, just a stone's throw from the main festival site, where the contestants could rub shoulders with all the main artists appearing, from stars of hip hop and pop to the all star cast of singers Concord had shipped in to sing with the German Radio big band.
As part of last year’s prize, the 2002 winner, Soweto Kinch performed with his quintet on the jazz stage at the Montreux festival to critical acclaim. For the second year running, the White Foundation World Saxophone Competition was one of the highlights of the Montreux Jazz Festival, with four nights of highly charged contest. The contestants were backed with impeccable grace and verve by the exceptional rhythm section of Geri Allen, Robert Hurst and Eric Harland. Many of the twelve semi-finalists said that just to play with this outstanding group (who were in town to play a headline concert with the competition's senior judge Charles Lloyd) was reward enough for competing.
Paul Towndrow's spirited Ornette-inspired alto playing won the audience prize, voted for on the night, but the main prize-winner was Jamie Oehlers who played a set of outstanding authority and control. Claude Nobs presented him with a 5000 CHF cash award, a Selmer Reference 54 saxophone, and gigs at both the BBC Radio 3 London Jazz Festival and Ronnie Scott's, an appearance in New York as well a headline concert at the 2004 Montreux Festival, plus a Blue Note Records audition and free legal advice over contracts. Cash prizes were awarded to Perez and Nielson the runners up in a closely fought contest that has now put this event firmly on the map as the world’s premier jazz competitions.
Soweto Kinch (Winner 2002) and Jamie Oehlers (Winner 2003) at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Downbeat Review of the 2003 Competition
2003 Selected Entrants to play at Montreux
Rahsaan BARBER USA
Gabor BOLLA Hungary
Alex HAN USA
Ben KOPPEL Denmark
Willow NEILSON Australia
Jamie OEHLERS Australia (second prize 2002)
Xavier PEREZ USA
David REX Australia
Kenny SHANKER USA
Phil STOCKLI Switzerland
Paul TOWNDROW Scotland
Paul VAN DER FEEN Netherlands
2003 JURY MEMBERS
Left to right. Jean Toussaint, George Robert, Jeremy White, Bruce Lundvall, Charles Lloyd, (Dorothy Lloyd guest) Soweto Kinch, Alyn Shipton
JURY 2003
Charles Lloyd. President of the Jury
Alyn Shipton Chairman of the Jury
Soweto Kinch. Winner 2003
Jean Toussaint
George Robert
Bruce Lundvall (Special Guest)
Jeremy White. Founder
ALL STAR RHYTHM SECTION
This years rhythm section was lead by Geri Allen on piano, Robert Hurst on bass and Eric Harland. These world famous musicians are touring with Charles Lloyd and generously offered to support the White Foundation's competition.
The competition was held at the Petit Palace on the shore of Lake Geneva in the heart of the Montreux Jazz Festival with seating for 450.
COMPETITION DATES 15th to 18th July 2003
This is the second year that the White Foundation in association with the Montreux Jazz Festival hold the World Sax Competition in memory of the great saxophone players of the past and to encourage the stars of the future. The saxophone is synonymous with jazz, and the competition aims to give young players an opportunity to display their talent to an international audience, gaining recognition and enhancing their careers. The competition semi-finals and final take place during the last week of the Montreux Jazz Festival from Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th July 2003 in Montreux, Switzerland.
The competition is open to everyone born after January 1st 1973 and who are pursuing a professional career and are not signed to a major label. The competition is organised annually and offers a unique opportunity for young saxophonists to meet other talented artists and respected jurists at one of the worlds most celebrated jazz festivals. The competition takes place in the beautiful Montreux Palace hotel overlooking Lake Geneva and the magnificent Alps. The competition is held thanks to a special partnership between the organisers of the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival and the Jeremy & Kim White Foundation dedicated to supporting the performing arts.
The competition is also organized thanks to the support of Henri Selmer Paris, Conservatoire de Montreux-Vevey, Association des amis du festival, Le Montreux Palace, New Note, International Association for Jazz Education, Ronnie Scott's, Jazzwise Magazine, Highlights in Jazz, BBC Radio 3 London Jazz Festival.
Application forms Available from this web site and www.montreuxjazz.com
Details of the competition
All performances are open to the public. The stage is located in the Montreux Palace Hotel.
The entrants' performance will be backed by a trio supplied by the Montreux Jazz Festival organisers.
First Selection
Jury members will examine entrant's application along with their CD (maximum 10 minutes). It can be a home, live or studio recording. In exceptional circumstances the organisers will accept mini disc or cassette tape. Details about the demo CD on the application form below.
Short list of candidates
Candidates who have been short-listed for the semi-finals will be notified by May 9th, 2003.
Selected candidates have to confirm their participation in writing.
Semi-finals (maximum 15 competitors)
Tuesday 15th July to Thursday 17th July 2003
Public performances (maximum 20 minutes) in front of the jury.
Final (Maximum four competitors)
Friday 18th July 2003
The four finalists will perform on Friday 18th July and will play a solo piece, a blues and a standard.
Each contestant will play for a maximum of 20 minutes.
Ceremony awards
July 18th after the final.
Travel and accommodation
Travel and accommodation expenses are to be covered entirely by the candidate. The MJF Competition office can help however by providing addresses of hotels and youth hostels in the area.
Instruments
Each competitor is responsible for his own instrument.
PRIZES
First Prize
Cash prize 5000 CHF
Limited Edition Ref 54 Presentation Selmer saxophone signed by Patrick Selmer.
Performance at the BBC Radio 3 London Jazz Festival in November 2003.
Performance and accommodation at the 38th Montreux Jazz Festival 2004 (July).
Performance at New York's longest running jazz concert series Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights in Jazz.
Concert performance during the 31st IAJE conference.
Jazzwise Magazine will cover the competition and include an interview with the competition winner.
Second Prize
Cash prize 3000 CHF
Participation in a Master class presented by a famous saxophonist during the 31st IAJE conference.
Third Prize
Cash prize 2000 CHF
Public Prize
Voted by the audience at the festival.
Competitors' certificates
All semi-finalists and finalists will receive a commemorative certificate showing their participation in the competition
MJF Competition
P.O. Box 126
CH – 1820 Montreux
Tél. +41 21 966 44 45
Fex +41 21 966 44 48
E-mail saxcompetition@montreuxjazz.com
www.montreuxjazz.com
www.whitefoundation.com
