Aims of the Competition

The aims of the competition for 2010 will include the following:

1.

To encourage and ‘showcase’ talented young jazz pianists. It is anticipated that the establishment of such a competition will be a major contribution to the International ‘jazz infrastructure’, which is widely understood to be currently under-developed in comparison with other genres of music.

2.

To demonstrate to students the possibilities of the piano as a solo instrument. It is hoped that as a result of this ‘showcase’ young people may be encouraged to take an interest in jazz, in piano music generally, to develop their own playing or imply to begin playing the piano.

3.

To raise the cultural profile of Nottingham and the East Midlands.

4.

To promote jazz as a musical genre, broadening the audience for it and demonstrating the potential of jazz as a multi-cultural musical genre.

5.

To forge educational links prior to the competition in order to encourage the involvement of schoolchildren who may have little or no knowledge of the piano or of jazz itself. There will be an important ‘outreach’ element before the competition: the competition organisers will be visiting Nottinghamshire schools to give presentations about the history of jazz (with special reference to the piano). Young pianists will be encouraged to perform at these sessions, and also (through liaison with schools and colleges) students and pupils will be encouraged to produce art works, designs and project work inspired by jazz. It is hoped that some of these designs will be used in the promotion of the event, and that a prize can be offered to children whose designs are chosen.