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.
I am now adding a new award, The Christine Markham Travel and Research Award. This is to celebrate my mother, an inspirational figure who loved to travel and was always keen to learn and discover. You can read about my mother in The Christine Markham Award blog.
The Sarah Markham Saxophone Award
Awarded each year to an outstanding graduating student.
2026 Sarah Markham Award for Outstanding Graduating Student: Kezia Colton.
Kezia is graduating from the Royal College of Music Junior Department, where she has studied with me since 2020. She was awarded the Ralph Markham Achievement Award in 2024 following national and international success in competitions. Kezia has continued to develop her playing and particularly enjoys using contemporary techniques to bring excitement and fun into her performances. Competition successes have continued and Kezia plans to continue to develop her solo career whilst studying in Paris with saxophonist Jerome Laran.
The Ralph Markham Achievement Award
Awarded to a student in recognition of their personal achievements and development.
2026 Ralph Markham Award for Personal Achievement: Royal College of Music Junior Department Saxophone Quartet.
For the first time, this award is given to an ensemble rather than an individual: Kezia Colton (soprano), Nina Linn (alto), Rory Johnston (tenor), Jake Fokes (baritone).
In 2025 the quartet reached the final of the RCMJD chamber competition, going on to perform at the Elgar Room at the Albert Hall in London, and at the Wigmore Hall in 2026. The quartet collaborated with RCMJD composers, premiering new works for saxophone quartet as part of the RCMJD LinkEd project, led by composition teacher Simon Speare. The quartet had a particular affinity with twentieth century French quartet works, which were central to their recital programmes. Three of the members studied jazz with RCMJD jazz teacher Mornington Locket, their love of jazz and other genres (tango, funk) also informed their repertoire choices as a quartet, both in recital and their function gigs.
The students graduated from the Junior Department in 2026. Kezia is continuing her saxophone studies in Paris with saxophonist Jerome Laran. Nina is going to Imperial College to study physics, with a scholarship to continue clarinet lessons at the Royal College of Music. Rory is taking up a scholarship to study jazz saxophone at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Jake is going to King’s College Cambridge to study Music, with a particular interest in analysis and conducting.
Kezia (soprano), Nina (alto), Rory (tenor), Jake (baritone)
The Christine Markham Travel and Research Award
Awarded to a student to further their studies through travel and research.
2026 Christine Markham Award Travel and Research Award: Pok Cheung Tsang
Pok Cheung, known as Timothy, is the first recipient of this new award.
Timothy, a previous winner of the Ralph Markham Achievement Award has recently graduated from Durham University and will take up his place at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to study conducting. Timothy is using his award price to attend a conducting course in Japan in summer 2026.
Many thanks to Vandoren, Yamaha and Saxtet Publications for their support.
Previous winners of the Markham Awards:
2025 Sarah Markham Award: Jack Marley (Cambridge University). Jack has graduated from Cambridge University and is developing a research and performing career.
2025 Ralph Markham Award: Pok Cheung Tsang (known as Timothy ) (Durham University). Timothy has completed his studies at Durham, graduating with a first, and is embarking on studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to study conducting.
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.