Press release: Elliot Wong announced as winner of The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize

Brubeck Living Legacy, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music and ECN Music, is delighted to announce saxophonist and composer Elliot Wong as the winner of the second Brubeck Living Legacy Prize.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Wong moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where he recently completed his postgraduate studies in jazz. He was unanimously selected by a panel of Darius Brubeck (Brubeck Living Legacy), Nick Smart (Head of Jazz Programmes, Royal Academy of Music) and Emma Perry (Director, ECN Music).

 

The panel recognised the strength of Wong’s proposal, his assured compositional voice and clear artistic vision, together with his readiness to make the most of the opportunity offered by the prize. “It is a great pleasure for me and the Directors of Brubeck Living Legacy to award this year’s BLL Prize to Elliot Wong, to make an album that really should be made,” says Brubeck. “The video of his final recital at Royal Academy of Music shows he is a musician with much to say and the talent to say it.”

 

The biennial prize supports outstanding emerging jazz musicians from the Royal Academy of Music, recognising excellence in both performance and composition. Wong will receive funding and professional support of up to £7,000 to create and release the recording.

 

His album, due for release in May 2027, will be produced by internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist and producer Claire Martin OBE, Artistic Director of ECN Music, with the company overseeing production, design, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. Wong will retain ownership of the master recording and will be supported in presenting an album launch event in London following its release.

 

“The consistently high calibre of project applications, combined with the exceptional standard of playing and composing, proved truly moving and inspiring for everyone involved,” says Smart. “Many congratulations to all who applied, and especially to Elliot Wong – we can’t wait to hear the finished album next year.”

 

Brubeck Living Legacy: https://www.brubecklivinglegacy.com/

Founded by the family of Dave Brubeck, Brubeck Living Legacy continues Dave and Iola Brubeck’s commitment to music, creativity and education. The inaugural prize was awarded to saxophonist and composer Kasper Rietkerk, whose album The Happy Worrier was released in 2025. This second edition of the prize is dedicated to the memory of Martin Hummel, founder of Ubuntu Music, whose vision helped establish the original Brubeck Living Legacy Prize.

WAVs - The Happy Worrier by Kasper Rietkerk

 

Royal Academy of Music: https://www.ram.ac.uk/

The Royal Academy of Music moves music forward by inspiring successive generations of musicians to connect, collaborate and create.  It is the meeting point between the traditions of the past and the talent of the future.  The Academy has had an inestimable impact on British and international musical life by training outstandingly talented musicians for fulfilling careers for over 200 years.  From its outset, Britain’s oldest conservatoire has been associated with some of the greatest names in music including Mendelssohn, Liszt and Sir Henry Wood. More recent alumni include Sir Elton John, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Edward Gardner, Max Richter, Lucy Crowe, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Jacob Collier. Today 750 students from over 50 countries are enrolled on undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes.

 
ECN Music: https://ecnmusic.com/

ECN Music is an award-winning music company that helps independent artists and labels release, present and grow their music on their own terms, providing integrated services encompassing production, design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and publicity.