Since 2017, the Amersfoort World Jazz Festival is successfully hosting the Sena Performers International Jazz Laureate Festival. The purpose of this event is to foster international careers by creating an environment for finalists from jazz and world music competitions worldwide. Besides performing at the Amersfoort World Jazz Festival, the laureates establish global connections and start meaningful collaborations through the exchange of talents. The festival enables international laureates to network with festival directors from around the globe.

The Sena Performers International Jazz Laureate Festival is an initiative by Dutch music organizations JazzNL, Sena Perfomers and NTB, in alignment with Amersfoort Jazz. It relies on the commitment of international jazz & world festivals and competitions. André Le Roux, managing director of South African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) sees this initiative as the beginning of a longlasting collaboration: “This festival creates an opportunity for our scholarship winners to make an international breakthrough and participate in important master classes”.

Since 2017, the foundation JazzNL organizes the Sena Performers International Jazz Laureate Festival as a full-fledged concert program during the annual festival  Amersfoort World Jazz FestivalThe purpose of this event is to foster international careers by presenting and connecting finalists from World Jazz competitions worldwide. The laureates are endorsed by the festivals that attend the festival Amersfoort Jazz and its World Jazz Conference (JazzNL). The young musicians are selected by a special committee, composed of members of the international JazzNL Network. Besides performing at the festival Amersfoort Jazz, the laureates establish global connections and start meaningful collaborations through the exchange of talents. The festival enables international laureates to network with festival directors from around the globe.

Laureates in 2022

FRIDAY, AUGUST, 12, DE OBSERVANT

Unleashed Cooperation (POL)
Endorsed by Szczecin Jazz Festival, Poland 

Keorapetse Kolwane (ZAF)
Endorsed by Joy of Jazz, South Africa

Alessandro Laura & Geatano Castiglia (IT)
Endorsed by Brass Group Foundation, Italy

SATURDAY, AUGUST, 13, DE OBSERVANT

Camilla George (UK)
Endorsed by Ronnie Scotts, United Kingdom 

Pit Dahm Quartet (LUX)
Endorsed by Like a Jazz Machine, Luxembourg

Eakpiya Sandpond (THA)
Endorsed by Hua Hin International Jazz Festival, Thailand 

SUNDAY, AUGUST, 14, DE OBSERVANT 

Jodi Fredericks (ZAF)
Endorsed by Festival Banyan Tree, India 

Peter Somuah Group (NL)
Endorsed by Amersfoort World Jazz Festival, The Netherlands 

Lucas Santana (BR)
Endorsed by Amersfoort World Jazz Festival, The Netherlands


Laureates in 2020

FRIDAY, MAY 15, DE LIEVE VROUW

T.B.A. Laureate from the Dutch Jazz Competition (NLD)
endorsed by Amersfoort Jazz festival, The Netherlands

Kasia Pietrzko Trio (POL),
endorsed by Szczecin Jazz Festival, Poland

• Petra Várallyay Trio (HUN),
endorsed by Babel Sound Jazz Fesztivál, Hungary

SATURDAY, MAY 16, DE OBSERVANT

Fernando Brox (ESP), w/ Broxilla,
endorsed by Festival Jazz Cadiz, Spain

Tontrakul
(THA), w/ Sound of Siam,
endorsed by Hua Hin International Jazz Festival, Thailand

• Baturay Yarkin Trio ft. Nagme Yarkin (TUR),
endorsed by Yeldegirmeni Spring Jazz Festival, Turkey

SUNDAY, MAY 17, DE LIEVE VROUW

Flora Carbo (AUS), w/ Origami,
endorsed by Wangaratta, Australia

• Keorapetse Kolwane & Daniëlla Hart (ZAF), w/ Thapelo Khumisi,
endorsed by Joy of Jazz, South Africa

• Laura Marti (UKR), w/ Trio Nataliya Lebedeva,
endorsed by Leopolis Jazz Fest, Ukraine

Take a look at the Amersfoort Jazz YT Channel


The Sena Performers International Jazz Laureate Festival is an initiative by Dutch music organizations JazzNL, Sena Perfomers and NTB, in alignment with Amersfoort Jazz. It relies on the commitment of international jazz & world festivals and competitions. André Le Roux, managing director of South African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) sees this initiative as the beginning of a longlasting collaboration: “This festival creates an opportunity for our scholarship winners to make an international breakthrough.”


Laureates in 2019

Alex Hirlian (AUS), Wanda Baloyi (SAF),  SaXPackGirl (THA), Arthur Endo (BRA), Jason Eduwaiti (SUR), Sun-Mi Hong (KOR/NLD), Ákos Fekecs Quartet (HUN), Dmitry Ilugdin Trio (RUS), JazzBIT (ROM), Cazzip Project (TUR), Claire Parsons & Eran Har Even Duo  (LUX/ISR).

Laureates in 2018
Kika Sprangers (NLD), Sebastiaan van Bavel (NLD), Dock In Absolute (LUX), Jazzamboka (CAN/CON), Daahoud Salim (ESP/NLD), Darren English (SAF), Laura Perrudin (FRA), James Macaulay (AUS), Thandi Ntuli (SAF), Ivan Mazuze Quintet (NOR/MOZ), Ntando Ngcapu (SAF) and Nikolai Moiseenko (RUS).

Laureates in 2017
LRK Trio (RUS), Paul Jarrett Quintet (FRA), Florian Favre Trio (SUI), Zoë Modiga/Bokani Dyer/Linda Sikhakhane (SAF), Subtext (ISR), Uriel Herman (ISR), Vuma Levin Quintet (SAF), Belem (BEL), Sisters of Invention (SWE), Mihael Hrustelj Trio (SLO), AsianScolars (KOR), Dominic J. Marshall Trio (GRB), Xavi Torres Trio (ESP/NLD), Okabe Family (JAP). Young laureates from the Dutch Prinses Christina Jazz Concours: Tadiro Velzel Quartet a.k.a. ‘Hourglass’, Idemo Quintet, Fuensanta Mendez Quintet (MEX), Antisia Machneva Quartet (RUS), Teis Semey Group (DAN), Raquel Kurpershoek, Ian Cleaver, Junior Jazz Unlimited Bigband and Bigband De Pubi’s (NLD).