Getting into the swing at Generations in Jazz

MILLICENT guitarist Hugh Stuckey made history over the weekend, being the first South East resident to win the coveted James Morrison Scholarship at the annual Generations in Jazz festival.

Organisers of the Mount Gambier event were delighted to not only have a local participate in the finals but to also go on to win the award, saying that it would help to raise the profile of the region and the event nationally.

"It's all very exciting," said Generations in Jazz executive officer Karyn Roberts.

"It is such a renowned achievement because all the winners have gone on to do great things and be recognised nationally and internationally. It's just huge."

Despite being only the second finalist to come from the South East, the last being tenor saxophonist Adam Page in 1998, Hugh took it all in his stride, saying he didn't feel any pressure performing in front of a parochial home crowd until the nervous final moments before he was announced the winner.

"I'm just ecstatic," Hugh said. "Really happy that I've won it."

A gracious winner, Hugh thanked his family and all the local fans for their support, acknowledging that the other talented finalists would no doubt go on to bigger and better things.

As for what he's going to do with the $10,000 scholarship, the 20-year-old has no immediate plans but hopes to pursue his passion for music.

"Well, I've got a degree to finish off first and then just keep studying - use the money to go overseas or interstate to study there. It's not all set in concrete yet," he said.

Thousands of people attended the three-day event, with participants from all over Australia coming to what is now one of the premier jazz events on the music calendar.

Aside from the 10 scholarship finalists, a record 60 stage bands turned it on for the musically uninitiated and jazz connoisseurs alike, with concerts held throughout the city.

Australian jazz legend and event adjudicator James Morrison once again attended the Generations in Jazz weekend, saying it was a fantastic opportunity for young musicians to get together and get inspired about playing jazz.

"Apart from being the biggest one we've had, in terms of numbers here, there's been a great feeling this weekend. Right from the first Friday night performance there's been such a vibe, it's been great," he said.

"I was surprised by the scholarship finalists - I knew they were going to be good but this year they actually exceeded what we expected - and the big bands were fantastic."

Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship winner Sophie Brous, from Victoria, reiterated the general sentiment about the weekend, saying "it makes you excited to be a musician".

"There really isn't anything like it in Australia. You could probably chart five or six generations of different players, both up-and-coming musicians and those who have already established themselves," she said.

"Just like everyone else here, I've grown up watching musicians like James Morrison and Graeme Lyall and it's just such an amazing thing to be honoured by them."

Excited by her win, Sophie hopes to use the scholarship money to pursue her dream and take up scholarships to study in the United States.