THE 2023 RISING STAR
JAZZ MUSICIAN AWARD

Sponsored by:

Two Young Jazz Artists to Receive 2023 Rising Star Award

Award includes $1,000 scholarship and performance at the Jazz Festival

We’re thrilled to announce the talented winners of the 2023 Rising Jazz Star Awards! This year the awards were split into Secondary and Post-Secondary School categories. Our deserving winners receive $1,000 scholarships thanks to Coast Capital Savings and the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society. Both will perform at the Festival!

️⭐Ethan Lawrence⭐ ️
Winner of the Rising Jazz Star Post-Secondary Award

️⭐Milan Stanga⭐
Winner of the Rising Jazz Star Secondary School Award

Ethan is a Langley-based musician and film composer who has been involved in the jazz community in many impactful ways. He teaches trumpet at a variety of levels and has organized and led a beginner fusion group at the Langley Fine Arts School. As he wraps up his final year in the Capilano University Jazz Studies program, Ethan is excited to share his jazz and film-inspired original music with festival-goers.

Check out Ethan’s quartet on Thursday, July 20 from 7-7:45pm at the Chief Sepass Theatre, as part of the ticketed Thursday night opening concert, Phil Dwyer’s Jazz Connections.

Milan is a talented grade 11 percussionist from Lord Byng Secondary in the Byng Arts Band Program in Vancouver who has studied the drums since he was four years old. He has mastered drum kits, hand percussion, bass and symphonic percussion, and sings too! Milan has spent years studying Cuban, Brazilian and West African music, has formed multiple bands and aspires to be a professional musician and composer.

Check out Milan on Saturday, July 22 from 10:30-11am at the free Community Hall Main Stage.

We had so many inspiring applicants this year and want to thank everyone who entered.

Past Winners: 
2022: Hugh Penner, trumpet
2021: Amber Tsang, vocals
2020: Alvin Brendan, guitar
2019: Julian Borkowski, trumpet