Testimonials

“Here is a pianist of rich promise.” Kevin Jones, Limelight Magazine.

“Emma Grace Stephenson is making her mark on the Sydney jazz scene as a fine, creative and versatile pianist and singer. Her playing continues to go from strength to strength. Other musicians are quickly discovering and appreciating her impeccable sense of groove, her tasteful, creative improvising, and her interest in exploring music well outside the typical jazz mainstream.” Saul Richardson, principal at Jazz Workshop Australia.

“Emma enchanted not only the staff and customers but drew in more customers into the store with her beautiful performance. Will have you back again…..Thank You so much for entertaining us.” Christina Woll, Das Nest Drummoyne

Profile

In recent months Emma Grace Stephenson has performed at venues such as the Hordern Pavilion, The Basement, the BlueBeat, the Macquarie Hotel, Sydney Town Hall, The Vanguard, The 505, Jazushi, the Dome Bar and has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with musicians such as the

Swing City Big band, Sally Cameron (the Idea of North), Jonathan Zwarts, Ed Gaston. In July 2013 she travelled to Scotland to performed at the Edinburgh Jazz festival and Aberdeen International Youth Festival with the Alex

Silver Quintet on a tour funded by the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA). Through such experiences Emma has fortified her immense passion for her art and is committed to maintaining a high standard and bringing energy and innovation to every performance.

Emma is currently halfway through the jazz performance course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she has received tuition from celebrated musicians including Judy Bailey, Matt McMahon, Mike Nock and Andrew Dickeson. At age 12 she was accepted into the musically

selective Conservatorium high School where she was tutored as a classical pianist and broke out into popular and jazz genres in her senior years. In 2007, as a year 10 student, she received the ‘Fellowship of Composers’ for the best composition amongst the total student body at her school’s

annual composers day. In 2008 she received her AMUS in the subject of piano from the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). In 2010 she was the recipient of the Pat Corrigan Scholarship for the most outstanding student at Jazz Workshop Australia jazz camp, run by John Morrison, which

funded the recording of her first trio album. In 2011 she began studying jazz piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of music. Emma was awarded the 2012 Corinna Taylor Memorial Prize by the University of Sydney for the student with the highest marks in a performance degree.

At present she is working in many different groups as well as doing solo performances spanning jazz, pop, rock, RnB and funk music. Emma has been the pianist for sydney big bands “Jazz Connection” (run by Judy Bailey) and “Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra” (Run by Saul Richardson) and has worked in small jazz ensembles such as her own trio, and pop covers bands such as Iconic Productions (Greg Gould and the Chase), Titanium 22 and the Sydney Funk Collective. In August 2012 she went on tour to regional Australia representing the Sydney Conservatorium jazz course with her trio and was part of a young jazz artists showcase selected and coordinated by Sally Cameron and Emma Pask on Eastside Radio. Emma also has her own originals band, “the Bubblewrap Sensation”, for which she plays keys, writes music and sings lead vocals. In the future Emma plans to continue a life of music and performance both at home and internationally.

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