Mohawk Music grad wins prestigious award at Montreal Jazz Festival

The Brad Cheeseman Group, led by the Hamilton bassist and composer and Mohawk Music alumna, was awarded the prestigious TD Grand Prix Jazz Award at this year's Festival International de Jazz de Montreal.

The prize features recording time, future festival appearances, prize money, and included a feature performance on the festival's TD Stage. Each year, the festival selects 10 Canadian artists to compete for the award and, after careful consideration, selects a winner based on their festival performances.

Brad Cheeseman—joined by pianist Sam Kogen, drummer Marito Marques, saxophonist Chelsea McBride and fellow Mohawk College alumnus guitarist Robert Chapman—delivered the exciting competition-deciding performance on July 4 at the Club Jazz Casino stage, performing selections from the band's award-winning self-titled album for hundreds of enthusiastic festival-goers.

At the festival's press conference, Cheeseman stated that "to be here at all, especially with nine other fantastic artists, is a huge honour and to get this recognition is incredible." The band later delivered a concluding performance on the festival's TD Stage on July 5.