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.
2024 Sarah Markham Award for Outstanding Graduating Student: 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.
Oliver 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.
2024 Ralph Markham Award for Personal Achievement: 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. Kezia has a particular interest in the music of South America, and enjoys collaborating with composers, notably British saxophonist and composer Jenni Watson.
Kezia 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:
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 also presents on the radio station AAJA Music.
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 continued her studies at the senior department of the Royal College of Music as a scholar, studying saxophone and flute as joint first study. She then went on to study for a masters and is now developing a busy playing career.
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 with Rob Buckland at the Royal Northern College of Music.