Sena Performers International Laureate Festival 2023
In 2023, the 5th edition of the Laureates event took place, for which ‘endorsed exceptional talents’ were selected from all parts of the world: Poland, South Africa, India, Australia, France, Italy, Lithuania, Thailand, Luxembourg, Spain, and The Netherlands. The Laureates Festival gives these young artists the opportunity to present their talent during full- length concerts, not only to a broad audience, but also to the attending international festival organizers and international press.
Woodcraft (NL)
Winner Dutch Jazz Competition 2022
Chi Quartet (NL)
Endorsed Talent of Amersfoort World Jazz Festival
CHI Quartet is an international contemporary quartet based in Rotterdam. Formed by Macau/Hong Kong pianist and composer Tin-Chi Siu. Given her multicultural background, Chi’s compositions encapsulate her diverse musical influences: heart-melting Classical melodies colored by intricate jazz harmonies, Indian and European folk rhythm elements intertwined with skillful Jazz improvisation.
In 2022 they released their first album “Unspoken” with Zennez records which features 9 original compositions and 9 unique personal stories behind them.
Following the release, the album received widespread critical acclaim from international music magazines such as Jazzism (NL), Melodiva (DE), Nice Premium (FR) and In Love With Jazz (HK).
Maxime Bender 'Universal Sky' (LU)
presents: Daniel Migliosi
Endorsed Talent of Echternach Trifolion
Mixing contemporary post-bop with elements of soul-jazz , Maxime Bender’s Universal Sky make unashamedly contemporary music that majors on melody and flow. Individual, but recalling Wayne Shorter, the leader’s tenor and soprano saxophone works over beds of guitar, organ and drums that stay harmonically open, mobile and always graceful.
Maxime Bender’s composition are influenced by all kinds of musical genres throughout his life, from rock and pop to classical and jazz. Bender constantly seeks to evolve, be it as an instrumentalist or as a composer. For this concert, Bender invites young trumpet player Daniel Migliosi to join him on the stage as ‘endorsed talent’ of Echternach Triofolion.
Hua Hin (TH) presents: Pang
Endorsed Talent of Hua Tin Jazz Festival
Pacharee Sa-nguanprasert (Pang) was born in April 19, 1990. Pacharee started to learn saxophone when she was 14 years old. In 2008 she was accepted to the College Of Music, Mahidol University. After graduated she worked as teacher and musician.
In 2014, Pang founded, together with her partner “Kwang”, the “12 Tone” channel on Youtube and Facebook. Here they worked together under the alias “SAXPACKGIRL” composing and performing original music.
One of Pang’s big idols is the dutch saxophone legend Candy Dulfer, from which she took a lot of inspiration as a young musician.
Pang – saxophone
Rofhiwa Ratombo – vocals
Thapelo Khumisi – piano
Gally Ngoveni – bass
Kgotso Vilakazi – drums
Daria Biancardi Quartet (IT)
presents: Tommaso Lannino & Francesco Foresta
Endorsed Talent of Sicilia Jazz Festival
Daria Biancardi is a soul and blues virtuoso singer, born in Sicily who, for many years lived in the USA. She started singing at the age of 18 becoming part of the gospel group ‘Palermo Spiritual Ensemble’. In the year 2000 she decided to test her luck in the United States. Here she had the opportunity to perform at the Apollo Theatre, the legendary “Temple Of Black Music” in Harlem, NYC. With the American experience, she gained a strong artistic maturity that led her to write original songs and develop her incredible voice and charismatic performance style that made her one of the leading Soul and blues vocalists in Europe.
For this concert Daria invites the young talented Italian musicians Tommaso Lannino and Francesco Foresta to join her as the endorsed talents of Sicilia Jazz Festival.
Daria Biancardi – vocals
Fabio Lannino – bass
Tommaso Lannino – keys
Francesco Foresta – drums
Ernesto Montenegro & La Local Jazz Band (ES)
Endorsed Talent of Canary Islands International Jazz Festival
Shinkarenko Jazz (LT) presents: Adrius Savçenko
Endorsed Talent of NIDA Jazz
Shinkarenko can be called a real bass virtuoso. From grooving baselines to melodic solo’s and melodies, nothing is too much for him. His band consisting of saxophone, trumpet, drums and piano assist him in this perfectly.
Dorrey Lin Lyles & Sylwester Ostrowski (PL) present: Jakub Mizeracki & Adam Tadel
Endorsed Talent of Szczecin Jazz Festival
Rofhiwa Ratombo & Thapelo Khumisi (SA)
Endorsed Talent of Joy of Jazz
Black Pantone (FR)
Endorsed Talent of Jazz à Vienna
The musicians of the trio Black Pantone met during a jam session in Normandie back in 2018 and stuck together since then. They released their first album ‘ Ni d’Eve, Ni d’Adam ‘ the next year and won several awards in different jazz competitions such as the European Golden Jazz Trophy. The variety of their influences and experiences creates a sound many describe as ‘cinematographic’ and is shaped by artists such as Avishai Cohen, Hiromi, Esbjörn Svensson Trio en Brad Mehldau but also classical composers such as Igor Tsjaikovski.
Their second album ‘Comme un gant’ was released in 2022 after their performance at the festival Jazz sous les Pommiers
Flora Carbo (AU)
Endorsed Talent of Perth International Jazz Festival
Flora Carbo is a Australian based saxophonist who is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young artists in the Australian jazz scene. Flora’s practice explores the vocal quality of the alto saxophone and the improvisatory and compositional boundaries between genres.
Flora has performed extensively in Melbourne and around Australia and at festivals including Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the Stonnington Jazz Festival. Completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne and the James Morrison Academy in 2019, she has worked with world renowned artists including pianists Barney McAll and Andrea Keller, as well composing and playing with ‘The Rest Is Silence’, ‘The Floor Is Well, Thanks’, ‘Flora Carbo Trio’, ‘Magnify’ and most recently ‘Ecosystem’ (performing a newly commissioned work at the 2022 Melbourne International Jazz Festival).
In 2018, Flora toured internationally with the ‘Company 2’ circus production ‘Scotch and Soda’, participated in the 2019 Banff Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music in Banff, Canada and was a part of the ongoing ‘Isolation Improvisation Collective’ restlessly creating throughout the pandemic.
Flora Carbo – saxophone
Jonas Nieuwenbroek – drums
Jurriaan de Kok – bass
