We’re proud to introduce the mjf Soundcheck Artists of 2024!
We will spend the next 8 weeks working with 8 of the brightest Greater Manchester-based artists aged under 30 on what will be the fifth round of our talent development programme. With support from mjf, artist mentors within each of the boroughs and experienced industry guests, our 8 selected artists will be encouraged to make new music with improvisation, to take risks, and discover their musical identity. No prior experience in jazz is needed to undertake the programme & the young musicians (spanning a wide range of genres & influences) will instead be learning how this might influence both their practise and music making.
Find out more about the artists, their passions and the aspirations they have for transforming their music over the course of the programme, by hovering over their image below.
ainsley vanzyl
ainsley is an improvisational pianist who likes to rap during performances! A true gremlin & agent of chaos she has way too many hobbies & can't stop collecting them. She hopes to make people laugh & smile with her music. And that she certainly did when winning the mjf2024 piano trail competition! She's excited to develop her skills during soundcheck & create something unique.
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georgie harold-moss
georgie is a singer & performer based in Manchester. Classically trained, now turned jazz singer, producer & drag king, they're working as a multi-disciplinary creative. They are passionate about fostering joyful, safe spaces for people to explore sound worlds & co-founded queer + FINTA led jazz band, Femme De La Femme, with this purpose. They're looking forward to creating their own new sound world through soundcheck!
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ben salwey
ben salwey is a composer & percussionist based in Manchester with a passion for music from other countries & cultures. He writes frequently for the new guitar-percussion duo, Ben & Matt, & for this project he will be working alongside friend & long-time-collaborator, Nat Morley. This project will be an exploration of British folk music blended with jazz styles & feature an exciting mix of percussive sounds.
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elena adams
Elena Adams is a 21-year-old composer, vocalist, & pianist, blending jazz, classical, & folk traditions into a distinctive, genre-defying sound. Drawing deeply from their love of late-Romantic & 20th-century classical music, Elena’s work merges rich harmonic landscapes with contemporary influences. Elena is pursuing an MMus in Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) & in 2025, they will compose for the BBC Singers as part of an RNCM workshop.
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leslie wink
Manchester’s own “Cup Noods”, or known by their peers as Leslie, is an agender professional DJ & jazz pianist. Growing up as a filipino musician in Hong Kong, adapting & improvising runs through their veins - whether it be on the decks or playing the keys. To foster more community spirit in Manchester, they started a group called Manchester DJs bringing together new & upcoming DJs. Leslie is currently working with mjf to further develop their skills.
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nat morley
nat morely is a music student in Manchester. Trained as a classical pianist, he is excited to try his hand at jazz! Nat recently started writing not just for the piano but his other instruments; the bass & his voice. Nat now wants to use his classical skills to push musical boundaries, writing music in new & interesting ways.
nora chayed
nora is a Norwegian & Moroccan artist, based in Manchester. With an exquisite theatrical flair, nora has under her alias "aron" explored themes of identity, social expectations, & the bittersweet journey into adulthood. Now exploring Jazz under her own name, Nora is getting even more personal. With her whimsical sense of words, & vibrant melodies, she invites her listener on a journey, where the echoes of her past meet the promise of the future.
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stefan tallis
Stefan is a pianist with a classical background & an especial love of Chopin. He is working towards establishing himself as a versatile virtuoso capable of playing all styles. Alongside the classical genre, Stefan also loves producing electronic music. He is eager to gain more experience in both producing & composing.
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