Taupō ‘cat’ claims top ‘chops’

Former Taupō student Louisa Williamson has won Best Jazz Artist at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards. 

By Chris Marshall 

She is now in London to “see where the music takes me.” 

Louisa couldn’t make the awards in person at Auckland’s Civic Theatre having already headed to the United Kingdom. 

She has attended over the last few years as a performer or because of her involvement in another finalist’s project. 

“I was watching the livestream from my auntie’s house in the UK, so it was morning for me, and that day happened to be the day I travelled down to London with all of my things to officially move there.  

“It was a pretty exciting day. It felt nice to be acknowledged for my own project in a room full of New Zealand musicians, a lot of whom I have worked for on their projects.” 

Critics say the accolade highlights Williamson’s contributions in the genre over several years and helps testify to her status as a leading figure in New Zealand’s contemporary music scene. 
She released ‘Groundwork’, the album for which she won the award, in April 2025. 

She spent years making it with good friends and long-time collaborators Daniel Hayles, Callum Allardice, Johnny Lawrence and Cory Champion.  

The group also released an album for Cory in the same three-day session that they recorded Groundwork and his album was also a finalist for the award.  

Groundwork collects eight pieces Williamson wrote and composed between 2016 and 2024 while she was finding her place within New Zealand’s contemporary jazz, soul, funk, and popular music communities. 

The saxophone and flute player has performed live and recorded with L.A.B., Trinity Roots, Dawn Diver, Bret McKenzie Band, AJA, MĀ, Rob Ruha, Clear Path Ensemble, The Rodger Fox Big Band, Other Futures Big Band, Lord Echo and Louis Baker. 

She is now looking forward to a lot of opportunities and places to play in London.