Take Note

About Take Note

Now in its seventh year, Take Note is a program that addresses the underrepresentation of women and gender diverse musicians in jazz by celebrating and promoting women and gender diverse leaders on stage and in high schools across Victoria. Each year, the Take Note Jazz Leader is commissioned and supported to develop new music for presentation at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and receives professional and artistic development opportunities, as well as delivering a range of educational activities.

The Take Note Jazz Leader receives:

• A $7,000 cash bursary to support the development of new original music to be presented at the 2025 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
• A performance at the 2025 Melbourne International Jazz Festival (17-26 October), for which the artist will be paid an additional performance fee.
• Professional and artistic development opportunities, shaped around the needs of the Jazz Leader.
• Ticketing package for MIJF 2025 and networking opportunities based around Festival events.
• Rehearsal space in the lead up to the MIJF 2025 performance.
• Regional and metropolitan mentoring engagements as part of the delivery of educational activities in secondary schools.
• University mentoring engagement.

The Take Note initiative is supported by The Harry Kestin Foundation, The Robert Salzer Foundation, The Angior Family Foundation, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (University of Melbourne), Monash University and ABC Jazz.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival wishes to acknowledge the generous support provided by the late Harry Kestin, who was instrumental in conceiving this program in 2019 and beyond.

Introducing MIJF’s 2025 Take Note Jazz Leader

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, improviser, composer, and educator, SOLUNE (Selene Messinis) has been selected to lead MIJF’s Take Note program in 2025. Recognised for her versatility and strength of sound, SOLUNE is a highly sought-after artist in the Melbourne music scene, having collaborated with musicians such as thndo, Parvyn, Bumpy and No Zu, and performed at festivals including WOMADelaide, RISING, Strawberry Fields Festival and Mona Foma.

Her instrumental project, progressive metal/nu-jazz quartet Mad Vantage, has cemented her as a powerful force, bursting into the heavy scene with the use of synthesisers, distortion and electronic sounds.

Recently announced as this year’s recipient of APRA AMCOS’ Professional Development Award in the Jazz & Improvised Music genre, 2025 marks an exciting year of artistic and professional growth for SOLUNE.

“I am beyond thrilled to be selected as this year’s Take Note Leader!,” said SOLUNE.  “It means so much to be seen and supported in my entrance into the scene as a solo artist, and I look forward to developing a career strategy for my unique brand of music with some of our industry’s finest mentors.”

Find out more and hear more from SOLUNE on our Content Hub.

Program Alumni

In 2024, flutist, composer and producer Erica Tucceri became MIJF’s sixth Take Note Leader. Her performance at MIJF 2024 with her 10-piece ensemble had audiences dancing and grooving, and deeply listening to her soulful flute, lush strings, and powerhouse rhythm section. Tucceri also led workshops in high schools teaching students about improvisation and how it can lead to composition and creativity for yourself and with others. Read more about Erica Tucceri on our Content Hub.

The first iteration of the program, Tomorrow is My Turn, commissioned a new work by bassist and composer Claire Cross – Into Light – and brought a touring band to metropolitan and regional high schools with an improvisation workshop and an opportunity to see women leading the way in music.

The initiative returned under the name Take Note in 2020 with saxophonist Holly Moore as the Jazz Leader. Holly premiered her suite of music at MIJF’s online music festival These Digital Times and connected with hundreds of students across Victoria with her online jazz workshops.

Trombonist and composer Elliot Lamb was the third Take Note leader in 2021, premiering their suite Between Worlds to a sold-out audience at The JazzLab, and receiving critical acclaim. They also inspired high school students across Melbourne with their jazz and improvisation workshops, giving students accessible tools to build skills and confidence in improvisation, whilst advocating for and championing gender diverse and LGBTIQA+ role models in jazz.

In 2022, saxophonist and composer Flora Carbo was selected as MIJF’s fourth Take Note leader. Performing a new suite of music with her ensemble, Ecosystem, Carbo performed to a sold-out audience at MIJF 2022. She also led workshops in high schools, inspiring and instilling confidence in students across Victoria to improvise and connect with others through music.

In 2023, composer and saxophonist Cheryl Durongpisitkul became MIJF’s fifth Take Note leader. I Still Miss You, her powerful new suite for 12 musicians left the sold-out audience at MIJF 2023 overcome with emotion. Durongpisitkul also led workshops with her trio Koi Kingdom in high schools across Victoria, teaching students about collaborative composition and cultivating bonds with an ensemble.