Veronika Morscher: Voice
Matthew Halpin: Saxophone
Sun-Mi Hong: Drums
Oli Hayhurst: Bass
Joseph Leighton: Guitar
Austrian singer-songwriter and jazz- vocalist Veronika Morscher is based between Cologne and Vienna and has collaborated on numerous projects and albums over the last years. She has won the Culture Prize in the category of Jazz in 2017 in Austria, been awarded the Jazzprize in Bonn in 2019 and last year, was nominated for the German Jazz Prize in 2023 for “Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” with her album collaboration “Tales From the Wooden Kingdom” with saxophonist Heiner Schmitz. Dublin-born saxophonist and composer Matthew Halpin is currently based in Vienna and has been appointed professor for jazz saxophone at Music and Arts Private University of Vienna. Aside from his pedagogical activities at the university and having taught masterclasses around Europe, USA, Asia and Central America, he works with various ensembles from Ireland, Germany and Austria and tours internationally as a saxophonist. They are joined by an all-star rhythm section of Joseph Leighton, guitar, Sun-Mi Hong, drums and Oli Hayhurst, bass.

Felip Carbonell: Guitar,
Voice EEddie Lynch: Piano
Eddie McFarlane: Guitar
Thursday evenings at Osta are a regular Sligo treat. Regulars Felip Carbonell and Eddie McFarlane are joined by Eddie Lynch on piano. Fine food served.

The launch of a new mellow jazz trio formed by two SJP regulars, Jan Finn (piano) and Brian Mulligan (bass), with Karl Burthom on guitar.

5pm – 7pm Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.

SLIGO JAZZ PROJECT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024 Elio Villafranca: Composer, Piano
Freddie Hendrix: Trumpet
Alejandro Aviles: Saxophone
Dion Parson: Drums
Paul Clarvis: Percussion
Manel Fortia: Double Bass
Julian Siegel: Saxophone, Bass Carinet
Paul Dunlea : Trombone
Cathal Roche: Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Gareth Lockrane: Flute
Born in the province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, Steinway Artist and cultural activist, author, pianist, and composer Elio Villafranca is a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient; a two-time Grammy nominee; 2019 Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Stars Pianist; winner of the 2018 Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Stars Keyboard; first Cuban born recipient of the Sunshine Award (2017), founded to recognize excellence in the performing arts, education, science, and sports of the various Caribbean countries, South America, Centro America, and Africa; and a recipient of the first Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) Millennium Swing Award in 2014. In 2023 Elio was also commissioned to compose his “Tres Aguas” suite which was premiered by Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra to huge acclaim in April 2023. Sligo Jazz Project has rarely seen such a combination of world-class stature on the Hawks Well stage. Our 2024 Artist in Residence is joined by a scintillating line-up of international and Irish musicians including his core group of long time collaborators: Alejandro Aviles, Freddie Hendrix, Dion Parson and Manel Fortia have all made the long trip to Sligo for the week, joining Elio on the SJP 2024 faculty from various parts of the globe. Drummer Dion Parson is a long-time Villafranca collaborator, our first faculty member hailing from St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and is joined by Cuban saxophonist Alejandro Aviles, Spanish bassist Manel Fortia and New Jersey based trumpet tour de force Freddie Hendrix. Award winning UK musicians Siegel, Lockrane and Clarvis complete the line up along with Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea and Leitrim’s own Cathal Roche!

10pm Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.