Equity in Jazz Program

Through a comprehensive program of scholarships, professional development and mentorship, Equity in Jazz aims to promote gender equity in jazz music and support the next generation of women-identifying and gender-diverse leaders.

Established in 2021, the original program supported a group of established jazz musicians to pursue creative research at a postgraduate level. From 2024 onwards, the program is broadening to nurture talent at the pre-tertiary and undergraduate level.

Equity in Jazz is led by Jessica (Jess) Green, a graduate of the program’s original 2022-23 cohort. With two decades of experience in performance and composition, Green’s extensive experience includes working in jazz programs that encourage gender diversity among high school student populations and leading a strategic vision for relationship-building in the NSW music educational community and the wider performance industry.

The Anthony & Sharon Lee Foundation Jazz Scholarship for Female and/or Gender Diverse Students is a 1-year $10,000 scholarship that supports outstanding female and/or gender diverse students to undertake studies in jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Applications are open to current Sydney Conservatorium of Music students who are:

• enrolled or have an unconditional offer to study a full-time coursework degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music 
• studying jazz,
• female and/or gender diverse students,
• in financial need.

Applications are now open. Students must submit an application by 11:59pm AEST, Wednesday 25 September.

Visit the scholarship page to apply.

The Equity in Jazz program offered scholarships to support creative postgraduate research by women-identifying and gender-diverse jazz musicians.  

Led by Dr Jo Lawry, the program was designed to increase the number of academically qualified female and gender-diverse people in jazz, and increase the gender diversity of salaried staff at the Sydney Conservatorium and tertiary institutions Australia-wide. 

The original cohort Green, Freyja Garbett, Tamara Murphy and Gian Slater received close mentoring and support from Dr Lawry, Dr Phillip Slater and Dr Simon Barker, across research, professional performance opportunities, and collaborations with industry leaders.

Read more about the inaugural Equity in Jazz cohort.

Equity in Jazz is generously funded by the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation.