We're delighted to introduce the selection panel who will be deciding on the cohort for our 19th edition of Take Five!
Take Five is our flagship talent development programme for emerging jazz and improvising musicians funded by Arts Council England, PRS for Music and the generous support of donors to the Serious Trust. The programme provides mentorship, collaborations, performance opportunities, and funding - serving as a pivotal moment in an artists career which has frequently led to wider recognition, touring, record deals and more.
Meet the Selection Panel
Nikki Yeoh
Since her emergence on the British jazz scene in the mid 90s pianist Nikki Yeoh has proved to be an improviser, composer and all-round adventurer who has continually sought to broaden her musical horizons. She has led her own bands in prestigious venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and performed with hip-hop producers like DJ Pogo at more informal spaces such as the Jazz Café. She has been part of a brilliant duo with the vocalist Cleveland Watkiss and also worked with choral ensembles. In other words, Yeoh is a creative free spirit who, although deeply rooted in the language of improvisation, is open to a range of music that leans as much to populism as it does high art.
Mark Kavuma
Over the last decade Mark Kavuma has established himself as a key player in London’s rapidly expanding Jazz Scene with The Banger Factory and his more recent inception, Banger Factory Records. Mark’s main outfit, The Banger Factory, is a collective that is contingent upon bringing the people a good time. whilst attracting and featuring some of the most gifted and engaging musicians on the scene today.
A gifted educator and inspirational creative enabler, Mark is an associate music leader for the Tomorrow’s Warriors programme and is also involved in their professional performance ensembles including the acclaimed Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Jazz Jamaica Small band, and Jazz Jamaica All Stars.
Beka Bee
Beka has been part of the PRS Foundation team since 2019 and works across various grants and programmes including The Oram Awards, The Open Fund, Hitmaker, The Composers' Fund, Beyond Borders, Talent Development Network and New Music Biennial. Beka has a background in music rights management and visual design and loves multidisciplinary arts. She is an avid gig-goer and has been to more music festivals than you can shake a stick at.
Heather Spencer
Heather has worked as Jazz North’s Programme Manager since October 2020, largely managing its live talent development programme, Northern Line. Prior to this, she worked in jazz as a promoter, producer and project manager across the North East, alongside freelance event work at arts festivals including Durham Lumiere. Heather is a trustee of Jazz Promotion Network and a Clore Emerging Leader, her previous work includes co-founder/co-director of DJAZZ: The Durham City Jazz Festival, Jazz Development Coordinator at Sage Gateshead and co-programmer of Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender and Sunday Jazz at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Jason Yarde
Composer, arranger, producer, musical director and saxophonist Jason Yarde creates music that has been described as powerful, spiritual and formidable. He composes across variety of styles (jazz, classical, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, soul) and for a variety of media (orchestras, chamber ensembles, big band, dance, film). His potential and originality has been rewarded with nominations for the Bird Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Jazz on 3 Innovation Award for the BBC Jazz Awards, the inaugural prize for Contemporary Jazz Composition at the British Composer Awards and a prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers.
Rob Farhat
Rob(ert) Farhat has been working at Serious for the last six years, first as Talent Development and Programme Manager then Senior Programmer and Talent Development Lead – running the Take Five (amongst others), and programming the EFG London Jazz Festival, Between The Lines, and other events. Born and bred in Dublin, Ireland and of Iranian-Armenian heritage, he previously ran Ensemble Music in Ireland and trained as a classical piano and viola player. Rob will be leaving Serious at the end of the month to take over as Contemporary Music Programmer at Kings Place.
