Awards

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Every year the Festival acknowledges musicians that have made a significant contribution to Saskatchewan’s music culture through the Special Recognition Award. This award has been received by many great artists who have and continue to shape the jazz community in Saskatchewan and beyond.

JIM HILL FESTIVAL BUILDERS AWARD

The Jim Hill Festival Builders Award has been presented annually by the Festival since 2006. The purpose of the annual Jim Hill Festival Builders Award is to recognize people who have made major contributions to the success of the Festival.

Special Recognition Award Winner 2024: Donny Kennedy

Recently returned to Regina Saskatchewan (July 2022) after 27 years in Montreal, Donny Kennedy joined the Regina Catholic School Division teaching Band and Jazz in the LeBoldus area. He also joined the faculty at the University of Regina teaching Jazz History and Appreciation. Donny moved to Montreal, Quebec in 1995 to pursue a jazz performance degree at McGill University. After graduating with high distinction in jazz saxophone, Kennedy continued his studies at McGill. He was awarded the graduate level entry scholarship to pursue a Master of Music in Jazz Performance. Donny received his Master’s degree in April of 2001.

Over the years, Donny has led and written for many groups. The Donny Kennedy Sextet toured Mexico as part of Festival Internacional Cervantino. This group was also nominated for the GM Grand Prix de Jazz at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2003. In 2001, the group was chosen as one of five groups to perform in Toronto as part of a Canada Council initiative to promote emerging Canadian jazz artists. The group released one recording entitled Horizons. The album features original compositions by Kennedy. Donny has also recently embarked on a new quartet project (The Kennedy/McLeod Quartet). This group has one recorded album entitled, Belaney’s Secret. A new album with this group is being recorded this summer and will be released in Fall 2024.

Donny taught at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music for 22 years and St. George’s School of Montreal for 15 years. At McGill, he taught Basic Jazz Arranging, Jazz Saxophone, Jazz Materials, Basic Materials of Jazz, Jazz Orchestra III, Jazz Philosophy and Instruction, Graduate Jazz Pedagogy and Jazz Combo. He was also the Jazz Combo Coordinator at McGill University. In 2021, Donny was awarded both the Schulich School of Music Teaching Award, and the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching from McGill University. Kennedy has also taught Saxophone at Bishop’s University. He has also directed the Jazz Ensemble at Camp Musicale d’Asbestos (English session) and is a regular faculty member of the annual Prairielands Jazz Camp in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Donny remains active as a freelance musician, clinician, and teacher in Canada. He is a D’Addario Canada endorsed artist. He has performed and recorded with Kevin Dean, Andre White, Kirk MacDonald, PJ Perry, Dee Daniels, Joe Sullivan, Remi Bolduc, Josh Rager, Steve Kaldestad, Janis Steprans, Kieran Overs, Christine Jensen, Paul Nedzela, Ingrid Jensen, The Montreal Jazz Big Band and many other notable musicians. He was also a member of the Min Rager Quintet. This group has recorded two CD’s entitled Bright Road and First Steps. Donny also played lead alto saxophone in the Joe Sullivan Big Band for 20 years and is still the lead alto player for the Juno award winning Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra. The Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra has a new album (Harbour) releasing June 28, 2024.

Jim Hill Festival Builders Award Winner 2024: Bruce Wilkinson

Bruce Wilkinson grew up on a family farm near Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan. After high school, he moved to Saskatoon where he completed his Bachelor of Applied Science (Electrical Engineering) while playing in various bands to help pay the tuition. He is still playing bass and is involved in Saskatoon’s music scene, both as a musician and a sound technician. During the 9-5 working day hours, Bruce worked in the music, pro audio and broadcast industries in Canada until retiring in 2017.

Discussions with Jim Hill in 1986-87 resulted in Bruce being involved with the very first Jazz Festival as “the guy who looked after all of the sound and lighting stuff.” As the Festival grew, this responsibility grew into taking 2 weeks of vacation from work and volunteering as the technical director for the first 10 or so years of the Festival’s existence. The days were very long and the nights were very short but, in the end, it was a great experience. The technical director position then transitioned to a seasonal paid position and Bruce stepped aside due to growing work commitments. Around 2009, Bruce changed working careers and was able to rejoin the festival, working on backline and sound system juggling with Grant Sotnikow. Grant was one of the people who had taken over from Bruce as the Jazz Festival’s technical director. This involvement lasted approximately 8 years when Bruce and Grant both felt the job needed some younger people to do the heavy lifting (literally) and the job has since been handled by others. While all of the technical duties above were taking place, Bruce continued to pursue his passion for music and regularly performed at the Jazz Festival as a bassist.

Bruce and his wife Rusty, celebrated their anniversary on June 29 – usually in the middle of the Jazz Festival. The anniversary celebrations were often a rushed restaurant meal that was squeezed between shows and technical personnel needs.

Today Bruce still performs in several groups and is seen occasionally on stage (and sometimes back stage) at the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. He will be playing with three different groups this year – Wires & Wood, The Saskatoon Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue and The Lewis-Salkeld Trio.