Thien Pham performs in the invitational All-State Jazz Gala
Sharing stages with the likes of Australian jazz luminaries Scott Tinkler, Andrea Keller and Michelle Nicolle, up-and-coming musician Thien Pham is a well-regarded jazz trumpeter who is still only in Year 12 at the St Kilda Road Campus at Wesley College.
On Saturday 8 May Thien shared the stage with Ross Irwin (The Cat Empire, The Bamboos) and his super band at the Victorian All-State Jazz Gala invitational.
Winner of the Outstanding Soloist Award at the All-State Jazz Championships (ASJ) on Saturday 1 May, Thien was selected from the top 26 soloists to perform at the Gala Invitational on 8 May.
‘Thien is an exceptional soloist and lead trumpet player. He’s one of the finest high school jazz musicians I’ve ever heard. We’re so excited to feature him amongst some of Australia’s best jazz musicians this Saturday,’ Ross Irwin, creative director of the ASJ, said.
An exciting up-and-comer with an ear for a diverse range of music and a gift for the difficult skill of improvisation, Thien plays in both classical and jazz ensembles at Wesley College including the Jazz Ensemble; Big Band; Symphony Orchestra with his brother Yen, who is in Year 6; Wind Ensemble and is the co-Jazz Captain at Wesley College alongside Denzill Nicholls, Year 12.
He has been a featured artist with the Darryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Melbourne’s scholarship ensemble, and performs with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra. Thien’s list of recent achievements includes winning at the Victorian State Solo Ensemble Championships Junior Concerto, being shortlisted in the Monash 2020 Emerging Classical Music Prize, winner of the Fine Music Online Championships in the Junior Bb Trumpet division and performing with the New Zealand National Brass Band Competition with Boroondara Brass as the front row cornet.
His sister Vy, Year 9, and brother Yen, are passionate musicians as well. Vy plays the piano and double bass, while Yen plays the cello. With Thien on trumpet – or the flute – the family have many of the instruments covered and Thien even plays in the Symphony Orchestra with his brother.
‘Thien’s playing has long reflected his whole being and his intensity, maturity, depth and persistence,’ Thien’s mum Elissa Pleming says. ‘When we have the pleasure of enjoying any musician, we need to be careful not to overlook their commitment and depth of skill. Ensemble work brings the real worth of music to the forefront, human interaction away from the repetition of solo practice. You can feel a real shift in enjoyment in the space that allows ensemble work to harness the true worth of musical interaction.’
Thien plans to continue playing trumpet while he studies at university next year.
