I am delighted to announce the recipients of the Markham awards 2024. Now in its twelfth year, I am increasingly proud of the legacy of these awards, the number of students who are awards alumni, and the achievements my award recipients have continued to make as they develop their careers.

The 2024 Sarah Markham Award for Outstanding Graduating Student is given to Leeds Conservatoire graduate Oliver Pritchard Jones.
Oliver began his studies with me in 2021 and is now graduating from Leeds Conservatoire with a first class honours degree majoring in classical with a minor in jazz. During his time with me at Leeds Conservatoire he was an active solo, chamber, and orchestral player. Oliver was particularly interested in contemporary music and played regularly with the New Music Collective. His interest in free improvisation led to several collaborations, notably with composer Professor Ben Gaunt. One of Oliver’s projects was working in a trio of saxophone, piano, and percussion exploring music by the late saxophonist and composer Barbara Thompson. He is going on to study for a masters at the Royal Northern College of Music.

The 2024 Ralph Markham Award for Personal Achievement is given to Kezia Colton.
Kezia is a current and continuing student of mine at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. Kezia has already had many successes to date, in the last year alone she reached the final of the Gordon Turner Competition at the RCM Junior Department and was selected to perform in the soloists concert at the RCMJD.

Kezia was also the only saxophonist in the country to reach the live round of the Young Musician of the Year competition in 2024. She was one of 50 selected from video entries over 300 to perform in the televised round held at the BBC studios in Cardiff. During her visit to Cardiff, Kezia met international saxophonist and presenter Jess Gillam. As part of her performance, Kezia played a special arrangement of Wood by British composer and saxophonist Jenni Watson. Kezia also demonstrated her love of the music of Astor Piazzolla, and her love of slap tongue with Philippe Geiss Trilog.

In 2023, Kezia attended the International Greek Saxophone Festival. Her performance of Scaramouche by Darius Milhaud was the winning entry in the competition category that year.

Oliver and Kezia both receive a cash award from me, a ‘Cleaning Bundle’ from Yamaha (tote bag, cork grease, key oil, powder paper, cleaning paper, note book, pen), saxophone reeds from Vandoren, and a piece of solo saxophone music from Saxtet Publications.

Discover the full list of past Markham Award recipients here. And you can find out more about why I decided to set up The Ralph Markham Award here.