from Friday 3rd NOV 2023

Past Winners – National Jazz awards

Australia’s most prestigious jazz competition, the National Jazz Awards have been a highlight of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues each year since the Festival began in 1990.

The Awards are designed to provide encouragement and exposure to young , emerging musicians (up to 36 years of age).  The five finalists each year are given the chance to perform with high-level accompanists at Australia’s most important jazz event.

Past winners of the event are:

YearWinnerFinal nomineesInstrument
1990Barney McAllJann Rutherford, Scott GriffithsPiano
1991Mark FitzgibbonJann Rutherford, Cathy HarleyPiano
1992Jann RutherfordCathy Harley, Jeff UsherPiano
1993Tim HopkinsBlaine Whittaker, Graeme NorrisSaxophone
1994Julien WilsonElliott Dalgleish, Lisa ParrottSaxophone
1995Elliott DalgleishJamie Oehlers, Blaine WhittakerSaxophone
1996Scott TinklerPhil Slater, James GreeningBrass
1997Will GuthrieDave Goodman, Danny FischerDrums
1998Michelle NicolleLily Dior, Martin BreezeVocals
1999Matt McMahonAron Ottignon, Cathy HarleyPiano
2000James Muller and Stephen Magnusson (tied)Carl DewhurstGuitar
2001Brendan ClarkeMatt Clohesy, Dane AldersonBass
2002Roger ManinsJamie Oehlers, Blaine WhittakerSaxophone
2003Phil SlaterEugene Ball, Paul WilliamsonBrass
2004Felix BloxsomCraig Simon, Dave GoodmanDrums
2005Elana StoneJo Lawry, Kristin BerardiVocals
2006Jackson HarrisonMarc Hannaford, Aaron ChoulaiPiano
2007Aaron FlowerBen Hauptmann, Hugh StuckeyGuitar
2008Phil StackBen Waples, Sam Anningbass
2009Zac HurrenPhil Noy, Jacam ManricksSaxophone
2010Eamon McNelis (trumpet)Matt Jodrell, Nick GarbettBrass
2011Tim FirthBen Falle, Dave GoodmanDrums
2012Kristin BerardiKate Kelsey-Sugg, Liz TobiasVocals
2013Joseph O’ConnorSteve Barry, Daniel GassinPiano
2014Carl MorganHugh Stuckey, Peter KoopmanGuitar
2015Sam AnningAlex Boneham, Thomas BottingBass
2016Mike RivettTroy Roberts, Jeremy RoseSaxophone
2017James Macauley (trombone)Niran Dasika, Thomas AvgenicosBrass
2018Alex HirlianAngus Mason, Oli NelsonDrums
2019No awards held  
2020Lauren HendersonJosh Kyle, Jess SpinaVocals
2021Matthew ThomsonMatthew Sheens, Steve BarryPiano
2022Peter KoopmanJoshua Meader, Julius SchwingGuitar