Celebrating and developing jazz
in Yorkshire and the Humber
Young musicians - would you like to spend a day playing Big Band Jazz?
Sunday 5th February 2012
The Grammar School at Leeds, West Yorkshire
9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m
Cost: FREE
An intensive, one-day big band workshop for young musicians aged between 12 - 18 years of age who are interested in learning more about playing Big Band jazz.
The day will be led by Al Wood and John Ellis MBE. Al Wood was a member of the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, deputy head of jazz performance at Leeds College of Music and a nationally respected big band leader. John Ellis MBE is head of the renowned Doncaster Youth Jazz Association and is internationally recognised as a leading developer of Youth Jazz Orchestras, having devised and directed courses in France, Germany and Sweden. John was awarded Jazz Yorkshire Educator of the Year 2010.
Download the flyer (PDF 160kb)
more information about Jazz Jamboree
Other Youth Big Band opportunities
Essentially Ellington UK
As part of their exciting forthcoming Barbican residency in July 2012, Jazz at Lincoln Center is working closely with the Barbican – Guildhall Creative Learning Division to give UK Youth Jazz Orchestras and Big Bands the opportunity to take part in the first UK representation of the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program. Eleven youth / school bands will be selected to participate and receive free resources from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Each selected participating band will receive a half-day visit and big band masterclass from a Jazz at Lincoln Center faculty musician as well as UK based jazz musician, who will advise bands on their big band playing skills. This half-day visit will take place on Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th or Friday 30th March 2012.
2012 Yamaha Jazz Experience Competition
Yamaha UK are inviting young musicians send in a video of their band playing two pieces for the Yamaha Jazz Experience Competition. Musicians should be aged between 11 - 18 with up to 8 musicians in the band - which must include bass, drums and a harmony instrument. Bill Martin of Yamaha says "Our judges are looking for convincing performances demonstrating improvising, fluency in the jazz language, sense of ensemble, good internal and external communication during the performances".
Videos must reach Yamaha UK by 24 Feb and 9 finalists will then be invited to perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in May 2012, in front of our jazz judges and the festival audience. The judges will choose a winning ensemble from each age category: u-15, u-17 and u-19, who will win gigs at top London jazz clubs. This means that younger ensembles stand a real chance of getting through.
Further details 2012 Yamaha Jazz Experience Competition
