Rising Young Star
While there are a multitude of opportunities for aspiring young jazz musicians to perform with their peers at various festivals and schools, opportunities for young players to perform with older more experienced professionals are rare, or nonexistent.
The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival offers a unique opportunity each year for one talented jazz student to become our Rising Young Star.
The chosen candidate performs each evening as a guest with the main stage artists performing at Picton’s historic Regent Theatre during the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival, and in a featured concert at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
The successful candidate is chosen by members of the PEC Jazz Festival Board of Directors.
The Rising Young Star Award is generously sponsored by Betsy Kidd.
The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival offers a unique opportunity each year for one talented jazz student to become our Rising Young Star.
The chosen candidate performs each evening as a guest with the main stage artists performing at Picton’s historic Regent Theatre during the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival, and in a featured concert at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
The successful candidate is chosen by members of the PEC Jazz Festival Board of Directors.
The Rising Young Star Award is generously sponsored by Betsy Kidd.
Applications for the 2022 Rising Young Star award are now closed.
2022 Rising Young Star
We are thrilled to announce drummer Keith Barstow of Napanee as the winner of the 2022 Rising Young Star Award.
Keith Barstow is an up-and-coming drummer originally from Napanee, Ontario. He recently received a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from the University of Toronto, where he studied with Ernesto Cervini, Terry Clarke, Nick Fraser and Jim Vivian. While there, he played in the 11 O’Clock Jazz Orchestra and the 12tet, and had the opportunity to perform with visiting artists Kris Davis, Tony Malaby and Renee Rosnes. Keith has also performed with Pat Collins, Mike Murley, Reg Schwager and Steve Wallace, and frequently performs with his sister Hannah Barstow. He can be heard on Hannah Barstow’s Beneath (2021) and the Adema/Manoukas Octet’s New Roots (2022). Keith resides in Toronto, where he is establishing himself as an exciting new voice in the jazz scene.
Look for Keith to perform with all of our main-stage artists during the 2022 PEC Jazz Festival. We suspect you will agree he’ll occupy many main stages in the future.
Keith Barstow is an up-and-coming drummer originally from Napanee, Ontario. He recently received a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from the University of Toronto, where he studied with Ernesto Cervini, Terry Clarke, Nick Fraser and Jim Vivian. While there, he played in the 11 O’Clock Jazz Orchestra and the 12tet, and had the opportunity to perform with visiting artists Kris Davis, Tony Malaby and Renee Rosnes. Keith has also performed with Pat Collins, Mike Murley, Reg Schwager and Steve Wallace, and frequently performs with his sister Hannah Barstow. He can be heard on Hannah Barstow’s Beneath (2021) and the Adema/Manoukas Octet’s New Roots (2022). Keith resides in Toronto, where he is establishing himself as an exciting new voice in the jazz scene.
Look for Keith to perform with all of our main-stage artists during the 2022 PEC Jazz Festival. We suspect you will agree he’ll occupy many main stages in the future.
PREVIOUS RISING YOUNG STAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
2019: Jacob Chung
Saxophonist Jacob Chung is establishing himself as an engaging contemporary voice in the Toronto jazz community. He currently studies at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music as a 2018 BMO National Scholar and a two-time Norman and Joan Promane Jazz Scholarship recipient (2019, 2020). Jacob won the 2018 Yamaha Passion and Performance Award and the 2017 Rico Golden Reed Award. He has shared the stage with the likes of Dennis Mackrel, Rich Perry, Robi Botos, Jodi Proznick, Mike Murley, and Carn-Davidson 9. Jacob is featured on Jacob Wutzke’s 2019 album Stop & Go and Thomas Steele 10tet’s 2020 album 10tet. He also appears on the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra’s 2020 album Embargo. A budding educator, Jacob served as an assistant faculty member at Interprovincial Music Camp in 2019, and directed the 2019/20 Hart House Jazz Combo under the supervision of Ernesto Cervini.
2018: Emily Steinwall
Emily has been involved in music from an early age. While in high school, she participated in the Humber College Community School and Honour Combo Programs. She was also a member of the MusicFest Canada National Youth Jazz Combo. A recipient of MusicFest Canada's Rico Golden Reed Award and the Humber College Scott Henshaw Memorial Award, Emily has had the opportunity to study with Alex Dean, Seamus Blake, Mike Murley, Lorne Lofsky, Dave Neill, and Andy Ballantyne, and perform with Al Kay, Ben Monder, Rich Perry, Tom Scott, and Lew Tabackin. Emily graduated from Humber College, where she studied with saxophonist Kirk Macdonald.
2017: Andrew McAnsh
While at Humber College, Andrew performed in studio ensembles under the direction of Pat Labarbera, Hilario Duran, Kirk Maconald, and Denny Christianson. He has collaborated with Jack Dejohnette, Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland, Terence Blanchard and the New York Voices to name a few.
2016: Hannah Barstow
Hannah is a pianist, composer and vocalist who recently graduated from the University of Toronto where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance with honours. While at U of T Hannah received a number of awards, including the Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance and the U of T Jazz Arranging Prize. Hannah participated in the TD Jazz Education Program while attending high school in Napanee, and has been a regular performer at the PEC Jazz Festival since the age of thirteen.
2015: Brad Eaton
Brad Eaton is a Toronto based trumpet player and composer, and a graduate of the Jazz Performance Program at the University of Toronto. During his time at UofT, Brad has had the opportunity to study with some of Canada's foremost figures in jazz, including, Mike Murley, Chase Sanborn, Kelly Jefferson and Dave Young, and can be heard on the UofT Jazz Orchestra's most recent recording 'Reflections'. Prior to attending UofT Brad attended the Humber College Community Music School, where he received instruction from Kirk MacDonald, Lorne Lofsky, Kieran Overs and Jim Vivian. Brad has been a member of the National Youth Combo of Canada, the Yamaha All-Star Big Band, the Youth Jazz in the City Honor Combo and the TD Jazz Youth Summit. He has been a member of the Brian Barlow Big Band since 2015, and has been performing actively across Ontario as a member of many stylistically-varied ensembles. Currently, Brad can be heard both online and throughout the GTA with his projects Radio Fraud and Merabula, and as a solo artist. He also performs regularly as a sideman with Marie Goudy 12tet, Surefire Sweat, and Viva Mexico Mariachi.
2014: Marika Galea
Marika first performed in the County in 2011 at our Jazz Education Program as a member of the Agincourt Collegiate Institute jazz ensemble. Since moving to Boston in 2012 to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, Marika has had the opportunity to perform at many top jazz venues including Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Small’s, and the Jazz Standard, and has performed with the Neal Smith Group, Bucky Pizzarelli, Benny Green and the Cyrus Chestnut Trio. Marika has returned to perform at the PEC Jazz Festival on several occasions including in 2019 as a clinician for our Jazz Education Program. Currently, Marika is an Assistant Professor of Jazz & Contemporary Popular Music at Brandon University.
2013: Matthew Woroshyl
Matt Woroshyl is an award winning saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator. He has performed with esteemed musicians such as Jamie Cullum, Jane Monheit, Donny McCaslin, Wycliffe Gordon, Mike Murley, Robi Botos, Tim Ries, Jon Faddis, Ingrid Jensen, Allison Au, Marie Goudy, John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra, among others.
Matt has performed extensively in such venues and festivals as the Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, The Toronto Jazz Festival, Koerner Hall, The Sitka Jazz Festival, The Ottawa Jazz Festival, and The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival.
Matt released his debut album 'Forward' in 2018. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto in Jazz Performance and a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
2012: Claire Devlin
The recipient of the 2012 Rising Young Star Award was Claire Devlin from Nepean, Ontario. Claire's passion for jazz began to emerge at age 12 when she first picked up the saxophone. She first became involved with the festival when she participated in PEC Jazz Education Program as a member of the Nepean All-City Jazz Band. Claire recently graduated from McGill University with a degree in Jazz Performance, having studied with musicians such as Chet Doxas, Rémi Bolduc, Frank Lozano, Donny Kennedy, and pianist Jean-Michel Pilc.
2011: Ian Wright
Ian’s association with the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival began while he was still a student at Centennial Secondary School and he is the second young musician from Belleville to win the Rising Young Star Award. Even before reaching the age of eighteen Ian had already performed with the Yamaha All-Star Band and received the Zildjian Outstanding Drum Set Player Award. He is currently enrolled in the Jazz Performance Program at Humber College in Toronto. His involvement in the Humber music scene began while he was still in high school and participating in the Humber Music Community School as an extracurricular activity. Ian played with their youth ensemble for three years, and won two gold medals at the Music Fest Nationals.
2010: Eli Bennett
Since winning the Rising Young Star Award in 2010 saxophonist and composer Eli Bennett has made quite a name for himself. The son of award-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian composer Daryl Bennett, Eli was recently recognized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS) as Rising Star, is a two- time winner of the Canadian CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, was awarded the 2012 Vancouver Mayor's Arts Award, and performed for two consecutive years at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Bennett is a 2012 Leo Award Nominee for his additional music score for Nash – a documentary on the life of basketball legend Steve Nash. In late 2014 Eli released his debut album, 'Breakthrough' which received international attention, ranking in the top 10 on Canadian and U.S. jazz charts. In 2015 he won the TD Grand Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Website: www.elibennett.com
2009: Lucian Gray
Toronto-born Lucian Gray began his musical journey as a bassist. He began playing the guitar only a few years before he won the 2009 Rising Young Star Award. He is currently attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship. Lucian is often back in Toronto to visit family and perform and will be featured at the 2013 Beaches Jazz Festival with his own ensemble made up of some Toronto’s best up and coming young players.
2008: Daniel Jamieson
Shortly after receiving the Rising Young Star Award Daniel was accepted into the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. He has since graduated and holds a Master of Music degree. Daniel has achieved international recognition for his work as a composer, arranger and conductor and has collaborated with Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Marcus Miller, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the WDR Big Band (to name just a few). In 2011 he received a Grammy nomination and since 2015 has been the Executive Director of New York City's Cutting Edge Concerts New Music Festival. In the spring of 2016 Daniel was appointed Staff Arranger for the United States Army Field Band. Website: www.danjam.ca
2007: Norbert Botos
In 2007, at the age of 14, drummer Norbert was the youngest recipient of the Rising Young Star Award. While he is currently in school he somehow manages to be constantly busy working with his own group in some of Toronto’s top jazz clubs and concert venues. He has also been a member of the Jazz.FM Youth Big Band.
2006: Bram Gielen
Belleville-born Bram Gielen was the first recipient of the Rising Young Star Award. On the heels of a childhood and adolescence studying classical piano and playing in local bands, he went on to study the double bass and graduated from the University of Toronto Jazz Program in 2008. Bram currently lives in Toronto where he keeps busy as a composer, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist with varied work in theatre, film, recording and live performance. His first large work as a composer, Biggish Kids, premiered at SummerWorks’ Musical Works in Concert series, and is in development for a longer run in 2013. Bram has been a frequent guest at the PEC Jazz Festival.