Top jazz artist is patron of music

International jazz artist Claire Martin OBE is singing the praises of Lewes Old Grammar School.
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The award-winning vocalist and BBC Radio 3 presenter has just been appointed LOGS’ patron of music – the first in the school’s 504-year history.

“I was delighted to have been asked to become a patron and am really looking forward to helping raise the profile of Lewes Old Grammar School’s music department, not only locally but nationally and, who knows, maybe internationally,” said Claire.

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One of her first opportunities to do just that will be at the Love Supreme Jazz Festival this summer in Glynde where she’ll share the stage with the school’s Vox Show Choir. Among many world famous artists on the same billing will be Bert Bacharach and Grace Jones.

Claire, who lives in Brighton with her husband and daughter, was instrumental in giving LOGS students the opportunity to open the inaugural South Coast Jazz Festival in 2015.

Jointly curated by Claire and fellow Sussex-based musician Julian Nicholas, the event featured a curtain-raising performance by LOGS’ Vox Show Choir, directed by music teacher Rachel Munro, herself an accomplished jazz artist.

Claire said: “My daughter Abigail attends the school. I know Rachel and I was of course aware LOGS had a strong music department but we were all blown away by this young choir’s performance last year.

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“I was fortunate to grow up in a household full of great music and go on to realise my dream of becoming a professional singer. It’s really important to me to see other young people encouraged to get involved with music and be inspired by it.”

The seven-times British Jazz Award winner will join the school’s other patrons, including Roy Mead and Jonathan O’Halloran.

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