Simon Hatton Jazz Saxophone Bursary

You can apply for this scholarship via our scholarship application process.

Application information

To be considered for this scholarship, you must complete the following sections within your application.

Study details

• Program

Achievements

• Referee details: Include a character reference in support of your application

Statements

• Personal statement: In 500 words or less, your career goals and aims and outline your passion for jazz saxophone.

You must upload the following in the supporting documentation section:

• A written statement of 500–1,000 words outlining your passion for jazz saxophone (in response to the qualities listed below) and how they intend to use and benefit from the bursary.
• A digital performance portfolio—a collation of live performances and/or other presentations of jazz saxophone.

Please upload the following formats only: PDF, Word, jpeg or Excel. We cannot guarantee other formats will be accepted.

Application Assessment

Applications will be assessed by a panel based on your ability to demonstrate the following qualities:

• A real talent and dedication to the saxophone
• Placing importance on performance, with that dedication to performance showing through a real love for the moment and the music
• An ability to inspire fellow musicians to play better themselves
• An ability to deliver a unique statement in music i.e. the energy and conception of the presentation is 'in the moment' and not attempting to replicate what others had done in any other moment
• A love for delivering live performance, creating new music and supporting fellow musicians
• Ability to outline how the provision of the bursary will enhance/develop your musicianship.

Value

Maximum value is $3,000, paid in a single payment.

Payment

Payment is made on confirmation the recipient is enrolled in the bachelor of music with the saxophone as their designated instrument.

Payment is made on confirmation the recipient is enrolled in the bachelor of music with the saxophone as their designated instrument.

The recipient is expected to use the funds to assist in their musicianship and developing their potential as a saxophone player, for either:

• tutoring support
• technical support
• mentoring support
• a nominated sponsored project.

The recipient will provide progress reports at six months and at the end of 12 months, to the University via the Student Financial Support office, outlining how the funds were expended and how they were of benefit. The recipient must have a clear and deliverable outcome in the form of any of the following:

• a live performance
• a piece of new music created
• completion of an agreed saxophone or jazz-related project
• completed attendance at saxophone tutoring or mentoring sessions.

If the progress reports are not received, the recipient may need to repay the bursary.

The recipient may be invited to attend an event to meet the donors.

Applications, including any supporting documentation and referee reports, must be completed and submitted by the closing date.

Offers are made via email.

Applicants may be shortlisted and be required to provide additional information.

Griffith University reserves the right to withdraw an advertised scholarship at any time.

Value

Maximum value is $3,000, paid as a single payment.

Payment is made on confirmation the recipient is enrolled in the Bachelor of Music with the saxophone as their designated instrument.

The bursary funds can be used by the student to support one or more of the following benefits:

• tutoring support for a sax player who is very talented and committed to the actual performance of the sax and making of music, which at times may come at the detriment of academic results
• technical support similar to that provided by Performance Studies
• mentoring support from someone respected in the Brisbane music scene
• a sponsored project nominated by the recipient that will assist in their musicianship, assisting them to blossom into their full potential as a sax player.

Sponsor details

This bursary honours Simon Hatton, a talented and committed student of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University who passed away in 2020. This bursary continues Simon’s passion for performance, the creation of new music and supporting fellow musicians.

The purpose of the Simon Hatton Jazz Saxophone Bursary is to assist a current QCGU jazz saxophone student.

Payment is made on confirmation the recipient is enrolled in the Bachelor of Music with the saxophone as their designated instrument.

The recipient is expected to use the funds to assist in their musicianship and developing their potential as a saxophone player, for either:

• tutoring support
• technical support
• mentoring support
• a nominated sponsored project

The recipient will provide progress reports at six months and at the end of 12 months, to the University via the Student Financial Support office, outlining how the funds were expended and how they were of benefit. The recipient must have a clear and deliverable outcome in the form of any of the following:

• a live performance
• a piece of new music created
• completion of an agreed saxophone or jazz-related project
• completed attendance at saxophone tutoring or mentoring sessions.

If the progress reports are not received, the recipient may need to repay the bursary.

The recipient may be invited to attend an event to meet the donors.

Applications, including any supporting documentation and referee reports, must be completed and submitted by the closing date.

Offers are made via email.

Applicants may be shortlisted and be required to provide additional information.

The University reserves the right to withdraw an advertised scholarship at any time.

Simon Hatton 2000–2020

The sudden death at the age of 20 of saxophonist Simon Hatton robbed Brisbane of a talented musician who was making an impact on the city’s music scene.

His ear for music, his love for it, his understanding of it, his passion in performance and his work ethic progressed through his years at Nudgee Junior College, Indooroopilly to St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, where he became a fixture in the school’s Jazz Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Simon was in his third year of a Bachelor of Music degree at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Later, he was to return to St Joseph’s as an assistant music teacher with an ability to teach any type of saxophone. While his first love was sax, Simon was also challenging and extending himself musically with guitar, vocal and composition in addition to playing tenor and alto sax.

He played at the 2017 James Morrison Jazz Jam and with the Brisbane Big Band, James Morrison and the Tijuana Cartel. He also attracted attention while playing at a number of festivals including Bluesfest, Caloundra Music Fest and the Nimbin Roots Festival.

His verve, passion and creativity in performance won fans while playing with a broad range of Brisbane bands covering a swag of genres from jazz to funk. This following extended to his own band, Spaced Invaders, which he successfully launched in March 2019.

He was inspired by the emotional push and pull of playing live, connecting with an audience that adored him, and sharing beautiful moments in harmony with his band mates. His ambition was to single-handedly influence the Brisbane music scene.

Nic Reynolds, a pianist, composer and band mate from Spaced Invaders, says Simon did just that.

He explains: “Simon had a bigger vision of becoming more than just a great musician, but also a living legend and an iconic figure in the international music scene.

“It was not an unrealistic vision for a young man of his extreme talent. He had already achieved it in Brisbane and I felt nobody could stop him from going all the way.

“Simon was constantly inspired by this vision and played his heart out wherever he went. He loved the musical interaction on Spaced Invaders’ gigs; feeding off the band’s energy and being in complete unity with each other at the climax of a solo.”

Tragically, sudden death was an unexpected, devastating climax to Simon’s career.

He was a natural leader and his students and band mates have acclaimed him as a great mentor.

Accordingly, the Hatton family has established the Simon Hatton Sax Bursary at the Conservatorium of Music Griffith University. It is aimed at furthering the study of music by providing financial assistance to a talented sax player needing tutoring or mentoring support, or by providing a sponsored project nominated by the successful applicant, to help that student achieve their full potential.