The Music Trust has announced the finalists for the 2021 Freedman Jazz Fellowship. They are Flora Carbo (saxophone), Joseph Franklin (bass), Hilary Geddes (guitar) and Maria Moles (drums).

Hilary Geddes

Hilary Geddes. Photo © ABC Jazz

Were it not for COVID the $21,000 prize would have been awarded at a concert in The Studio at the Sydney Opera House, originally scheduled for 30 August. But the current lockdown has put paid to that and instead the four finalists will work with mentors to hone their creative projects before meeting virtually with the judges, who this year include trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis, saxophonist Loretta Palmeiro, and pianist and producer Stu Hunter.

Flora Carbo is an emerging saxophonist from Victoria. Twice nominated for the Freedman Jazz Fellowship, her project includes a creative mentorship to develop compositional and performance practice and a new performance work, as well as participating in Speak Percussion’s Bespoke program. Her goals are to work as an artist, composer, curator and artistic director. She will work with mentors Jim Denley, Eugene Ughetti and the community of Speak Percussion to support this next stage in her career.

Melbourne-based bassist Joseph Franklin is a member...