2022 Rising Jazz Star Awarded to Capilano University Student!
Honour includes $1,000 scholarship and paid performance at Jazz Festival
Fort Langley, BC – A student at Capilano University who developed a passion for the trumpet at Ecole Salish Secondary School in Surrey is the recipient of the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival 2022 Rising Jazz Star Award.
“We congratulate Hugh on the award in recognition of his considerable talent,” says the Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival Artistic Director David Quinn. “Our judging panel instantly noted Hugh’s talent and we were impressed with his high level of performance ability, which is well beyond his age.”
As this year’s winner, Penner will receive a $1000 scholarship provided by Coast Capital Savings and a paid performance on the main outdoor stage of the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival on Sunday, July 24th.
"It is a great honour to be chosen for the 2022 Rising Star Award and I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to share some of my music this July,” said Penner upon learning about the honour. “To be able to perform alongside some of the Lower Mainland's jazz giants is exciting and inspiring. I really look forward to taking in all that the Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival has to offer."
Penner began playing the trumpet in grade 7 band but fell in love with jazz in grade 10. His insatiable quest for learning the language of jazz giants such as Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and Woody Shaw clearly influence his musical style. A great lead player, Hugh is also a creative improvisor. He has won numerous awards at the Surrey Jazz Festival, played lead trumpet in the National Honour Band at Musicfest and participated in various local festivals including the Blaine Harbour Jazz Festival where he studied with Charlie Porter and Greg Hopkins. He is attending the jazz Music program at Capilano University.
For the past four years, Penner has been with the Vancouver Groove Orchestra, a non-profit big band where they perform and the proceeds from ticket sales go to local charities and music programs. They often play in local high schools for their jazz nights where they raise money for their programs and inspire young music students.
Penner studied jazz under the direction of Ecole Salish Secondary School Director of Bands teacher, Bill Clark who notes he has seen many young musicians during his 30 years as an educator, but Penner is special in a number of ways. “I can safely say that Hugh is one of the most remarkable young players I have ever witnessed. I am nothing less than humbled by the presence of this young man and am look forward immensely to following his career.”
The Rising Jazz Star Award supports the development of an emerging young jazz artist by providing an opportunity to perform at the festival and a $1,000 scholarship. The honour recognizes an outstanding student who is or will be studying jazz music at the post-secondary level who demonstrates a high level of performance ability and is/will be pursuing their goal of a professional career in jazz music.
For more information about Hugh Penner, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/hugh.penner.music/ and https://youtu.be/hEQ17qpKm90
THE ODLUM BROWN FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL will take place July 21-24 and will be the biggest ever, with more than 60 bands and 300 musicians performing across eight indoor and outdoor stages.
Headline acts include blues guitarist and singer Sue Foley; jazz vocalist Molly Johnson, jazz-funk band The Shuffle Demons, jazz trumpeter Michael Sarian, jazz pianist and singer Champian Fulton, Afro Dominican Latin Jazz percussionist, Junior Santos and soul-gospel performer, Warren Dean Flandez - among others.
The event will also include the most extensive free stage lineup in the history of the event.
The Fort Langley Jazz & Arts festival wishes to thank its title sponsor Odlum Brown Limited, along with other valued partners.
Presenting sponsors: Conwest/Vicini Homes, Fort Langley Community Improvement Society, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, proudly representing the Port of Vancouver, MacCallum Law Group
Supporting sponsors: Ayreborn Audio Visual, Bedford Dental Centre, Chartwell Retirement Residences, Caliber Projects, Quadra Homes, Langley Community Music School, and Telus
Funders: Government of Canada, Government of BC, BC Arts Council, BC Touring Council, Creative BC, Metro Vancouver, Township of Langley
FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT AND FOLLOW THE FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/SHARE the 2021 Best of the Fest video HERE. VIEW/CHECK OUT high-res photos HERE.
Here’s a link to our YouTube channel where the 2021 Best of the Fest and our 2021 highlight video is available.
ABOUT THE ODLUM BROWN JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL
The Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival is a not-for-profit cultural organization that makes accessible the highest caliber of jazz music and arts programming to a wide variety of audiences through the presentation of year-round concerts and events and an annual music and arts festival.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Ballance Laura@LBMG.ca 604.771.5176