After a hiatus of two years due to Covid, Phillip Island Jazz has reinstated the Encouragement Awards to music students of both the Senior and Junior Schools at Newhaven and Bass Coast College.

Long-time supporter of jazz on Phillip Island, Bass Coast Council was represented by Cr Ronnie Bauer who did the honours in presenting the student awards to winners on behalf of Phillip Island Jazz.

Recipient Will Murphy, a year 12 student at Newhaven College who will be studying at Melbourne University in 2024, gave an outstanding impromptu performance on the bass with the David Dower Quartet (David just happened to one of his early teachers during his studentship at Newhaven College).

Other recipients were Ambrose de Goyer a year 6 student from Newhaven College (who plays trombone), Seb Kenny a year 9 student from Bass Coast College, who plays alto saxophone, and Noah Robertson a year 12 student from Bass Coast College who plays trumpet and cornet.

The Directors of Music at Newhaven and Bass Coast Colleges, in conjunction with Phillip Island Jazz, are committed to ensuring the Encouragement Award process continues long into the future.