16 May 2026
Ten emerging jazz musicians are taking the next step in their professional careers thanks to the support of Helpmann Academy’s generous award donors and partners, with $37,000 in career-launching awards presented at this year’s An Afternoon of Jazz featuring three-time GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist Troy Roberts.
This annual award and performance event brings together world class experience and emerging talent in a shared celebration of jazz, celebrating outstanding musicians from Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts.
In the lead-up to the performance, Helpmann Academy partnered with Adelaide University to deliver an intensive week of workshops, rehearsals and masterclasses with internationally acclaimed saxophonist Troy Roberts. The program gave emerging musicians the rare opportunity to learn directly from a globally recognised jazz artist, developing their performance, improvisation and composition skills while gaining invaluable insight into the international standards and realities of a professional jazz career.
In 2026 we are proud to again present a suite of awards designed to kick start the careers of these emerging musicians. We are thrilled that this year includes two new awards made possible through the generosity of supporters Jackie Charles, and the Adelaide International Jazz Festival.
L-R: Benjamin Spitty (Trumpet), Luis Vollmer (Piano), Lucinda Wearing (Alto Sax), Troy Roberts (Sax), Lauren Logozzo (Voice). Photo: Sam Roberts.
Awards were presented to the following students and graduates:
TASHA STEVENS
Helpmann Academy Langley Award for Jazz
Valued at $7,500 | Supported by K&S Langley Family
Tasha is a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts, with a Bachelor of Music Honours (First Class) in Jazz Performance (Bass), graduating in 2022. Tasha is a multi-instrumentalist, primarily being a bassist, secondarily vocalist, with additional skills in violin, viola, cello, and guitar, and the ability to compose and arrange. “Helpmann’s support is making it possible to attend ‘Hideaway’, where I will extend my harmonic literacy and musical connections around the world, and is also a chance to receive mentorship from music professionals whose careers outline the path I desire to emulate. I am looking forward to collaborating with and learning alongside like-minded individuals from all around the world and representing Adelaide and Australian jazz excellence in Italy.” | Tasha Stevens, Helpmann Academy Langley Award for Jazz 2026 recipient.
MILLICENT (MIM) SARRE
Helpmann Academy Award for Voice
Valued at $7,500 | Supported by Dr Rob Lyons
Mim has a Bachelor of Music Theatre, specialising in Cabaret & Musical Theatre – Composition and Performance, from Adelaide University. She is a cabaret and musical theatre artist and composes, performs and mentors in both genres. “With support from the Helpmann Academy, I will be able to record and release the album of original songs from my new cabaret work ‘Too Tired to Smash (Patriarchy)’ and tour the show to Edinburgh Fringe in August 2026. Making my international debut later this year is both an exhilarating and daunting prospect. Helpmann Academy’s financial support and confidence in the project have alleviated a lot of the stress associated with this career milestone and will allow me to make the most of the Edinburgh season and leverage it for future opportunities. This undertaking feels even more achievable and exciting thanks to their support. I couldn’t be more grateful.” | Millicent (Mim) Sarre, Helpmann Academy Award for Voice 2026 recipient.
PAOLO GUTTILLA
Helpmann Academy Top Honours Award
Valued at $5,000 | Supported by Lang Family Foundation
KALLAN FRANCIS
Helpmann Academy Top Undergraduate Award
Valued at $5,000 | Supported by Rod & Christine Cornish
Kallan Francis is a guitarist based in Adelaide and studied at Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts. Kallan has flourished as one of South Australia’s most in demand and exciting young musicians, performing at some of South Australia’s largest venues, such as the Festival Theatre, Adelaide Town Hall and Adelaide Entertainment Centre, as well as performing across Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo.
LAUREN LOGOZZO
Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Vocalist
Valued at $2,000 | Supported by Dr Rob Lyons
Lauren Logozzo is an Adelaide-based jazz vocalist and composer studying Jazz Performance (Advanced) at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts. Her work focuses on contemporary vocal jazz, combining improvisation with original composition and reinterpretations of standard repertoire.
BENJAMIN (BEN) SPITTY
Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Trumpet
Valued at $2,000 | Supported by DankPods
Ben is a third-year student studying a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) (Advanced). He currently plays lead trumpet in his university big band, where he has developed a strong interest in big band and commercial playing. Ben has performed with a wide range of artists and ensembles across different musical styles.
BAILEY SCHWARZ
Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Bassist
Valued at $2,000 | Supported by DankPods
Bailey Schwarz is an Adelaide based bass player specialising in jazz electric bass. A multidisciplined musician with focus on modern jazz and fusion, Bailey works to combine the influences of jazz with music styles from all around the world.
HUW ROBERTS
Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Guitar
Valued at $2,000 | Supported by Chili Crabs
Huw Roberts is an accomplished jazz guitarist creating and performing music on Kaurna land. While she has been heavily inspired by her mentor, James Muller, her unique and sweet sound also draws from her work with vocalists.
LUCINDA WEARING
Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Saxophonist
$2,000 | Supported by Jackie Charles
Lucinda began playing saxophone in primary school, developing an interest in jazz through high school bands and then JazzSA Superbands. This led her to study jazz at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts, where she has toured rural schools with the Big Band and later with a select small ensemble led by Mark Ferguson.
NEW AWARD: The Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Saxophonist, supported by Jackie Charles, is a new inaugural $2,000 award created to celebrate female-identifying and non-binary jazz musicians at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts, reflecting Jackie Charles’ commitment to supporting greater representation and opportunity in jazz.
LUIS VOLLMER
Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Pianist
$2,000 | Supported by Adelaide International Jazz Festival
Luis is a third-year student at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts, majoring in Jazz Piano. He is currently involved in a wide array of ensembles, continuing to develop a diverse skill set. Luis is also experienced as a big band lead trumpeter, as well as a vocalist, frequently performing in both jazz and contemporary settings.
NEW AWARD: The Helpmann Academy Award for Outstanding Pianist, supported by the Adelaide International Jazz Festival, is a new inaugural $2,000 award that celebrates emerging jazz pianists while recognising the importance of community connection, collaboration, and industry support, with the Adelaide International Jazz Festival providing valuable encouragement and visibility for the next generation of jazz musicians.
“This afternoon’s performance at UKARIA Cultural Centre was a wonderful celebration of the exceptional talent emerging from Elder Conservatorium of Music and the School of Performing Arts. We are incredibly proud to see our graduating musicians perform alongside internationally acclaimed artist Troy Roberts, whose artistry and generosity inspired everyone in the room. Our partnership with Helpmann Academy continues to create meaningful opportunities for young artists to thrive, and I congratulate all performers and award recipients on an outstanding afternoon of jazz.” | Adelaide University’s inaugural Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Nicola Phillips.
Held at the beautiful UKARIA Cultural Centre at Mount Barker Summit, the concert was an opportunity for graduates to learn from and perform alongside Troy Roberts, an internationally renowned headliner. It offered a rare opportunity for ticket holders to witness jazz talent all the way from New York City alongside the next generation of jazz musicians in an unforgettable collaboration.
Amongst the stunning backdrop of the Adelaide Hills, the opening set of the performance featured the top jazz students and award winners showcasing their talents after an intensive and hands-on week of workshops and rehearsals with Roberts. Each emerging musician had their moment to shine on stage to an appreciative audience.
Troy Roberts (L) and Paolo Guttilla (R) with Tasha Stevens (Bass) and Lachlan Durrans (Drums). Photo: Sam Roberts.
“The post-graduate award winners finished their performance with Roberts’ composition ‘King of Hearts’, which was a fabulous showcase of Top Honours Student, saxophonist Paolo Gutilla. His solo was gritty; filled with the fire characteristic of the tenor saxophonists of the late 60s, and pleasingly showed no musical deference to Roberts, each treating the other as musical equals – Roberts’ solo was effortlessly virtuosic and had a rhythmic fluidity that wonderfully juxtaposed Gutilla’s syncopated insistence.”
Edmund Black, in his article ‘Music review: An Afternoon of Jazz ’ (InReview)
Read the full InReview article here.
The second set was more intimate with Troy Roberts joined onstage with Elder Conservatorium staff and musicians, Lyndon Gray (bass), James Muller (guitar) and Stephen Neville (drums) for a quartet performing compositions from Roberts’ latest album release, Green Lights and a range of contemporary and classic tunes.
This extraordinary event is made possible through the generous support of our 2026 jazz partners and donors, whose commitment to nurturing emerging talent helps sustain the next generation of musicians. We extend our thanks to the dedicated academic and professional staff of Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts, and to the team at UKARIA Cultural Centre.
PRESENTING PARTNERS
Presented by Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts and Helpmann Academy.
AWARD DONORS & PARTNERS
K&S Langley Family
Dr Rob Lyons
Lang Family Foundation
Rod & Christine Cornish
DankPods
Chili Crabs
Jackie Charles
Adelaide International Jazz Festival
With special thanks to David McKee AO & Pam McKee
Check out our photo gallery. Photo credit: Sam Roberts.
