The PJS Awards for 2008 were presented at the annual Ladies of Jazz night on Monday December 22. Most Outstanding Individual Contribution to Jazz Last night the Perth Jazz Society posthumously honoured Dave Way with an award for the 'Most Outstanding Individual Contribution to Jazz'. Earlier this year and after almost twenty years as Musical Director, teacher, arranger, motivator and occasional bus driver, Dave retired due mainly to ill health, as Head of the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band. A talented musician in his own right, during the mid sixties Dave became leader of the incredibly popular band JT and the Jazzmen, the first WA group to present its own national television series. From the formation of the Mazenod College Big Band at Lesmurdie in 1989, the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band in 1990 to his band for underprivileged children sponsored by South Perth LIONS, Dave’s energy, determination and genuine love, whilst teaching the importance of discipline and teamwork, were a joy to behold. Many of his students went on to enter the tertiary education sector as both teachers and jazz artists, including his talented daughter, vocalist Bronwynn Sprogowski. We should be forever grateful for unique individuals like Dave who dedicated his career to teaching music to the children of Western Australian. Most Outstanding Jazz Group of the Year This was awarded to the Sarah McKenzie Septet. 20-year-old Sarah McKenzie plays piano, sings and composes. Having moved from Melbourne to Perth to enter the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), she graduated this year after studying a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Composition), under the direction of Mace Francis. Sarah has played with some of Australia’s leading lights - James Morrison, Daryl Somers and Joe Chindamo to name just a few and recently made her television debut performing with David Campbell at the L'Oreal Paris AFI awards and also sang backing vocals during Michael Bubble’s recent Australian concert tour. Sarah has been a James Morrison Jazz Scholarship Finalist for the last four years, and has been the only person to be a finalist in both the instrumental and the vocal section. This year Sarah is a member of the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO), has been a member of the Women in Jazz Big Band, the Melbourne Youth Big Band, and has performed with many small jazz groups, playing at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Warrandyte Music Festival and the Melbourne Women in Jazz Festival. Sarah also performed as the featured pianist in the Australian Show Band and Linda Oh's Sisters in Jazz Big Band. Sarah is the recipient of the 2006 Perth Jazz Society Encouragement Award, the Musicianship Award for the Melbourne Youth Big Band, the Peter Martin Jazz Scholarship (at the Royal South Street Competition) and The National Songwriters Competition (ACMF) and this year won the Melville Toyota prize for most outstanding graduating jazz student at WAAPA. The lineup playing with Sarah also have impressive individual records with Mat Jodrell – Trumpet, Troy Roberts – Saxophone, Jeremy Greig – Trombone, Danny Susnjar – Drums, Tim Jago - Guitar and Marc Earley - Bass.