​Oct 2025
Finalists announced for 2025 Freedman Jazz Fellowship

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Holli Scott, Niran Dasika, Sam Gill & Wilbur Whitta have been announced as the finalists vying for this years Freedman Jazz Fellowship.

 

The finalists will each perform at Sydney’s ACO Neilson on November 22 with the winner to be announced on the same night. 

 

Tickets for the finalists concert are available here  

 

The Freedman Fellowship is a career-defining opportunity that recognises and supports the next generation of leading jazz musicians, providing $30,000 to the recipient to support a major, career defining project.

 

Conceived by philanthropists Laurence and Kathy Freedman and launched in 2001, the fellowship program took a break in 2024 following the retirement of founding director Richard Letts AM. The Fellowship program has returned in 2025 with an exclusive focus on jazz.

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Over the life of the Fellowships a “who’s who” of artists have received vital early support, making the finalists concert a must for anyone interested in hearing the next major voices in Australian jazz. Previous winners have included Phil Slater, Andrea Keller, Kristin Beradi, Matt McMahon, Aaron Choulai, Matt Keegan, Hilary Geddes, Helen Svoboda and more.

About the finalists

Sam Gill is a saxophonist, improviser, composer and researcher based in Sydney, Australia. He leads the groups Coursed Waters & Scattered; is a member of the composer-performer collectives Microfiche & Mind on Fire, and has duo projects with electric bassist Joseph Franklin, drummer Simon Barker and pianist Chris Abrahams. Sam was a recipient of SIMA's Emerging Composers Mentorship in 2022 and received a PhD from Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2023.

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Holli Scott is an established jazz vocalist, bandleader, and composer based in Perth, WA.  Since releasing her debut album DUST in 2019, she has received multiple nominations for WAM’s Song of the Year, ‘best vocalist’, and ‘best jazz act', and was one of three finalists in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (USA, 2020). Her second album of original music, ‘Weather and Weeds’ was released in Oct. 2024 to critical acclaim, and was feature album on ABC Jazz and Scott received the WAM Song of the Year Award for jazz. "A true poet...deep, gutsy, human, and very vulnerable" - Monica Trapaga, ABC Jazz ; "An immersive, deeply expressive work that lingers long after listening" - Dingo Jazz

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Niran Dasika is a trumpeter, improvisor, and composer based in Melbourne, whose work encompasses jazz, free improvisation, and electronic music. Niran has an active performing career in both Australia & Japan - where he lived for several years. He has released eight albums as a band leader, including the latest ‘Life Forms’ (2025). Niran was recognised at the 2017 National Jazz Awards (2nd Place) 2019 Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year (winner) & received the 2019 APRA AMCOS Professional Development Award in jazz.

 

Wilbur Whitta’s practice explores the intersections of improvised music, the jazz tradition, and modern composition. His debut album ‘Wildfire’ (ABC 2024) for piano/synthesiser, trumpet, saxophone and drums received critical acclaim. His forthcoming second album consists of entirely improvised solo pieces for piano and organ. Other career highlights include: National Jazz Awards, Finalist, 2021; Dankworth Jazz Composition Award (UK), Winner, 2019; Masterclass presentation at Royal Academy of Music, London, 2023 ; Appearances with legendary Australian jazz outfit ‘Ten Part Invention’