JAZZ.FM91 is pleased to announce that Fabio Kutnowski is the 2026 recipient of the Mary Alice Stuart Scholarship.
Mary Alice Stuart, the founding chair of JAZZ.FM91, made an unparalleled contribution to the organization, helping to make JAZZ.FM91 the successful enterprise it is today. To honour her legacy, a program was developed in 2009 that awards annual scholarships to outstanding emerging jazz artists who are completing their studies at the four Toronto-based post-secondary institutions currently offering jazz programs.
Fabio Kutnowski is a dynamic emerging bassist based in the Toronto music scene. Raised in Fredericton, NB, Fabio is in his final year of study at Humber Polytechnic under the tutelage of Lauren Falls as well as past professors Jon Maharaj and Patrick Kilbride. Fabio is renowned for his diverse skillset across styles. With a background in classical cello, he has taken that foundation and applied it to the double bass. He currently plays double bass in the Etobicoke Philharmonic as part of their Student Scholarship Program, and has played in other classical groups around Toronto as well. Aside from classical, Fabio has experience playing traditional jazz, jazz fusion, funk, R&B, pop, tango, salsa, Afro-Cuban and bossa nova in venues around the city.
Kutnowski was interviewed by Heather Bambrick during Wake Up! last week, you can listen to the interview below.