Established in 2013, the Jazz FM awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of musicians, from rising stars to international artists, across the jazz, blues and soul genres.
This year’s awards took place in London on 16 April and saw acts such as Chaka Khan and Sir Van Morrison take home prizes for their achievements. Joining them in celebration were Academy alumni Emma Rawicz, Donovan Haffner and members of Ezra Collective.
Emma Rawicz was presented the UK Jazz Act of the Year award by Martin Freeman, as voted for by the public.
Emma is a critically acclaimed jazz musician and composer, whose musical endeavours span across Europe. Having played in over 15 countries, Emma tours with a range of projects, from her regular touring quartet to the 20-piece Jazz Orchestra which she manages and composes for.
Emma was Cambridge Jazz Festival’s 2023 Artist in Residence and she featured as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the London Jazz Festival in 2022. Along with the success of her debut albums, Emma has enjoyed success at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and as a finalist at the BBC Young Jazz Musician Competition.
Breakthrough Act of the Year was awarded to Donovan Haffner, an award-winning jazz saxophonist and 2024 Academy alum.
Winner of the Jazz Newcomer category at the 2025 Jazz Parliamentary Awards, Donovan has showed promise from a young age. From age 11 he trained with the Tomorrow's Warriors Young Artist Development Programme, and at 18 was invited to tour Italy with drummer Moses Boyd.
He has collaborated with renowned jazz artists at venues and events across the UK, including EFG London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Café, We Out Here and Love Supreme. Recorded with his quintet, Donovan’s debut album Alleviate was released in 2025.
Ezra Collective, a jazz quintet comprised of three Academy alumni, won the 2026 Outstanding Contribution to UK Jazz award. Junior Jazz course alumni Femi Koleoso and Joe Armon-Jones and 2022 jazz trumpet graduate Ife Ogunjobi perform alongside TJ Koleoson and James Mollison.
Ezra Collective are a multi-award-winning band who formed after meeting at the Tomorrow’s Warriors programme. Recipients of the 2023 Mercury Music Prize and the first jazz band to win Group of the Year at the Brit Awards (2025), the group regularly have gained international recognition for their work, collaborations and performances on major stages, such as Madison Square Garden and Glastonbury Festival.
The Academy offers congratulations to Emma, Donovan and Ezra Collective on their successes.