In 2013 I decided to set up The Sarah Markham Award. My teaching is an integral and important part of my career as a saxophonist, working with students and watching their development. The award gave me a way to celebrate my students’ achievements. Recipients of the award have gone on to carve out their own successful careers as musicians, educators, and more.
But learning is not about being the best, it’s about finding the tools to become our best selves. By learning we can discover and develop. I am committed to the personal development of my students’ journey. I aim to help them find out what is important to them, how they can improve as a musician in a way that works for them, and to find their path as they carve out a career.
In 2018, I established another award, The Ralph Markham Achievement Award, to celebrate and continue my father’s legacy. You can read more about my father in The Ralph Markham Award blog. This award is given to a student in recognition of their personal achievements and development.
The Sarah Markham Saxophone Award.
Awarded each year to an outstanding graduating student.
2025 Sarah Markham Award for Outstanding Graduating Student: Jack Marley.
Jack began his studies with me at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and continued to work with me throughout his time at Cambridge University. At the RCMJD he was a key member of the saxophone ensemble and saxophone quartet, in addition to developing his saxophone skills and working as a composer. After graduating from the RCMJD and moving to Cambridge, Jack’s lesson with me were often remote with online lessons and lots of video and audio recording sharing. Alongside working on core repertoire, Jack has always been interested in contemporary repertoire, writing his own music for saxophone and other instruments, and bringing in influences from other areas of the creative arts, particularly theatre. Jack won a scholarship to receive lessons at the Royal Academy of Music in his final year at Cambridge, continuing to have some lessons with me in a consultancy capacity. For Jack’s final recital he chose a theme of Friendship, with Stockhausen’s epic In Freundshaft at the centre of this well crafted recital.
Jack receives 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.
The Ralph Markham Achievement Award.
Awarded to a student in recognition of their personal achievements and development.
2025 Ralph Markham Award for Personal Achievement: Pok Cheung Tsang.
Pok Cheung Tsang, known as Timothy, is a current and continuing student of mine at Durham University. Originally from Hong Kong, Timothy has just completed his second year at the University. As well as playing the saxophone, Timothy is a keen conductor and conducts Durham University’s Wind Orchestra. In addition to developing his saxophone technique and working on core saxophone repertoire (recently Milhaud Scaramouche and Waignein Rhapsody), Timothy has been researching the work of Ryo Noda, culminating with a performance of Noda’s Phoenix in his end of second year recital. Timothy has been particularly interested in the influence of the shakuhachi flute, and the culture surrounding the instrument. He has been learning the instrument himself and demonstrated it in a talk as part of his second year performance module.
Timothy receives 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.
Many thanks to Vandoren, Yamaha and Saxtet Publications for their support.
Previous winners of the Markham Awards:
2024 Sarah Markham Award: Oliver Pritchard-Jones (Leeds Conservatoire). Oliver completed his undergraduate degree with me at Leeds Conservatoire and is now studying for a Masters in Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music. He is also a member of the award winning duo Kastos with percussionist Sam Milton.
2024 Ralph Markham Award: Kezia Colton (Royal College of Music Junior Department). Kezia is continuing her studies with me at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. Kezia continues to develop her playing, regularly visiting Paris to work with saxophonist Jérôme Laran. Successes include competitions in the UK (Young Musician of the Year 2024 only saxophonist to reach the live round, RCMJD Gordon Turner competition finalist) and abroad (Greek International Saxophone Competition winner of the intermediate class, participant in the Andorra Youth Saxophone Competition 2025).
2023 Ralph Markham Award: Keana Miller (Leeds Conservatoire). Since graduating from Leeds Conservatoire Keana has based herself in the Birmingham area and is busily building up her private and school teaching, whilst also developing her playing career.
2022 Sarah Markham Award: Rosemary Ball (Royal College of Music Junior Department). Rosemary is continuing her studies at the Royal College of Music as a scholar, and at the European University of Saxophone, Gap, France.
2022 Ralph Markham Award: Lucy Havelock (University of York). Lucy has continued to develop her own sound as a saxophonist, composer, and improviser. Her music can be found on SoundCloud. She presents on the radio station AAJA Music, is a member of the contemporary music collective Standard Issue, and has completed a masters degree at Goldsmiths university.
2021 Sarah Markham Award: Matthew Bartlett (Royal College of Music Junior Department and Durham University). Matt is continuing to develop his playing and his interest in politics.
2021 Ralph Markham Award: Will Gibbon (Leeds Conservatoire). As well as developing a portfolio career combining gigging and teaching both as a saxophonist and drummer, Will has also started studying for a masters at Goldsmiths University.
2020 Sarah Markham Award: Jasmine Brown (Royal College of Music Junior Department). Jasmine went on to study saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 2024 with a first class honours degree.
2020 Ralph Markham Award: Rosemary Ball (Royal College of Music Junior Department). Rosemary continued her studies at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Whilst still at school she won her school concerto competition and performed the Dubois Saxophone Concerto with the school orchestra. She went on to win the Sarah Markham Award in 2022 and is now studying at the Royal College of Music.
2019 Sarah Markham Award: Rianna Henriques (Royal College of Music Junior Department). Rianna received scholarships to continue her studies at the senior department of the Royal College of Music and has completed her studies to masters degree level. A sought after talent, Rianna’s career in orchestra, theatre, jazz, pop, and session work is already flourishing.
2019 Ralph Markham Award: Megan Broadley (University of Huddersfield). Megan graduated with a 1st class degree and went on to complete a PGCE. She is now enjoying a succesful teaching career.
2018 Sarah Markham Award: Konstantinos Raptis (Leeds Conservatoire). Konstantinos completed his Masters in Music (Creative Musician) at Leeds Conservatoire, having previously studied as an undergraduate with me at the University of Hull. He is now working as a saxophonist, teacher, music producer and DJ in Greece.
2018 Ralph Markham Award: Pui Ying Sze (University of Sheffield). Pui Ying completed her Masters in Music Performance at the University of Sheffield. She went on to study with Gerard McChrystal at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (London) and is now working as a teacher in Hong Kong.
2017 Sarah Markham Award: Felicity Evans-Waite (University of Durham). Felicity completed her degree with a First in both her double recital and contemporary performance modules.
2016 Sarah Markham Award: Kenneth Wilkinson (University of Huddersfield). Kenneth has completed a Masters in Research (Performance) at the University of Huddersfield. He is also a founder member of the saxophone ensemble Quirk.
2015 Sarah Markham Award: Lucy Fox (Leeds Conservatoire). Lucy has completed a Masters at Birmingham Conservatoire, where she studied with Naomi Sullivan.
2014 Sarah Markham Award: Matthew Rawlins (Leeds Conservatoire). Matt went on to study with Raaf Hekkema at the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague. 2014 Sarah Markham Award: Savannah Brown (Royal College of Music Junior Department). Savannah studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Boston University in the USA as a first study violinist. She has now returned to the UK and is embarking on a playing career.
2013 Sarah Markham Award: Nathan Hull (Leeds Conservatoire). Nathan went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music.