Sydney Con broadens groundbreaking jazz program

Jess Green, Jazz Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, has been announced as the new Program Leader for Equity in Jazz.

In 2024, the Equity in Jazz Program has broadened to include a $10,000 per annum music scholarship for undergraduates and younger students interested in developing their passion for the jazz genre, as well as financial support for established musicians pursuing postgraduate research.

“The broadening of focus to continue positive action within the undergraduate program, and illuminate pathways for pre-tertiary students, is an exciting opportunity to foster the next generation of students,” Green said. 

“I’m looking forward to working with Dr Steve Barry, Program Leader for Jazz, to make sure our program is welcoming to all, especially women and gender-diverse musicians. We’re creating a space where everyone can thrive.”

Green’s vision for Equity in Jazz is to establish mentorship programs and networks that offer young musicians inspiring role models and valuable professional and educational opportunities to help them excel. 

“The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is leading the way in making the music landscape more equitable by focusing on diversity and helping young musicians become creative, skilled, and adaptable,” she said. 

“We’re training musicians who are not only creative but also ready for anything their careers throw at them, so they can contribute to a vibrant musical culture in Australia and worldwide.” 

A graduate of the 2022-23 Equity in Jazz cohort, Green is a highly sought-after music educator and has extensive experience teaching in jazz programs that encourage gender diversity among music students. With a career spanning more than 20 years working across various disciplines in the arts, she is also an expert on how to foster collaborative relationships within both the music educational community and the wider performance industry.

“I’m excited to lead this important program that’s already making a big impact on the jazz scene in Australia and internationally,” Green said.  

Jazz students at Sydney Con are already enjoying diverse, global experiences. This year, jazz students attended summer programs in Siena, Italy and Banff, Canada, ran a self-led study and mentorship residency in New York City, and performed at the opening of new University centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. 

Students in Sydney recently worked with renowned Brooklyn-based jazz trumpeter Chloe Rowlands, as she completed an artist-in-residence and series of workshops at the Conservatorium. 

If you’d like to find out more about the Equity in Jazz Program and scholarships available, please contact Jess Green at jessica.green@sydney.edu.au.

The Equity in Jazz program is generously funded philanthropically by the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Hero photo: (L–R: Sara Todner, Sophia Hunt, Elizabeth Player, Sarah Morrison, Ruby Firmstone, Annabel Bates, Jupiter Lawson). Credit: Stefanie Zingsheim.