Calling Young Jazz Musicians - 2 day jazz workshop in York, 11/12th August

York Jazz Initiative are running a two day workshop for young musicians on August 11th and 12th, offering the chance to hone your jazz skills with the help of professional musicians for only £20.

Ian Chalk says...

The workshop is for any young person in full time education (including higher education) and is designed to help young people develop their jazz performance skills whether they are experienced jazz soloists or have never played jazz before!

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All young musicians would benefit from this workshop as it will widen their harmonic knowledge, help them get to know their instrument better and build their confidence plus having lots of fun!

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The workshop tutors are all high quality professional jazz musicians as well as experienced educators and the workshop will be led by York Jazz initiative's Musical Director Ian Chalk. 

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Attendees will learn how to begin to improvise with their instruments or voices or add to their existing skills in in fun-filled and encouraging environment.

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As the workshop progresses they will have the opportunity to perform with the tutors and have the thrill of playing with professional jazz musicians!

This workshop was made possible through the generous support of the Ronnie Scott's Charitable Foundation. 

For more information and to sign up, see the York Jazz Initiative website. 

NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Ian Chalk (Dec 14th)

Two weeks into our advent calendar, we find trumpeter Ian Chalk. 2016 has been a busy year as he has been hard at work building up the jazz education scene in York through leading a number of large ensembles and workshops.

He has recently released a recorded an album of 16 christmas carols with brass and strings which is free to download. All he asks is if you can afford it, make a donation to MacMillan Cancer Support. Follow this link to download the album - http://inf755.wixsite.com/ianchalkmusic/christmas-carols

Ian is a jazz trumpet player performing throughout the UK and a well-known jazz educator.
As Director of York Jazz Initiative Ian directs 5 different jazz ensembles for all ages and abilities.
He performs with his band Firebird Quartet and is in demand as a guest soloist at jazz venues around the country and has performed with many great jazz artists including Dennis Rollins, Gary Smulyan, Kate Peters Septet and the Yorkshire Jazz Orchestra.
Ian lives in York and is striving to make the city a centre of excellence for jazz education.


"One of the UK's finest trumpet players..." - Whighams Jazz Club, Edinburgh

Ian's website - http://inf755.wixsite.com/ianchalkmusic

York Jazz Initiative launches Jazz Orchestra Album

The highly talented young musicians involved with YMF Jazz Orchestra have released a new album entitled Soundwave under the leadership of Musicial Director Ian Chalk.

Ian says...

The album sounds incredible and it's hard to believe that it was recorded by school age musicians.  York really has some wonderfully talented young jazz musicians.

Since we don't receive any external funding all the proceeds from album sales will be used to benefit all the ensembles we work with and our shopping list includes new fancy big band stands, lighting equipment and modular staging so please, please, please buy this wonderful new album!

This album wouldn't have been possible to record without the help and expertise of David Rose, our amazing sound engineer.  David gave his time and expertise entirely for free for this project and we can never thank him enough.  David Rose Sound Services's website is here and we recommend that you contact David for all your location recording needs.

We would also like to thank all the parents who have supported us and of course all the musicians who gave up their time to record this amazing music.

So please listen to the album and then buy it so we can make York Jazz Initiative even more brilliant!

 To listen to and buy the album, visit the York Jazz Initiative website.

York Jazz Initiative Announces New Choir

Ian Chalk has announced that a new Jazz Choir will run in York starting early 2017, representing the latest in a string of jazz education initiatives which aim to make York a centre for excellence in jazz.

From the York Jazz Initiative website...

So if you're an adult (16+) who would like to sing some cool jazz tunes in a group of approximately 20 and be tutored by one of the UK's great jazz singers and vocal coach, Kate Peters, then this is for you.  You don't need to have an amazing voice or be able to read music, just be open to having lots of fun, making new friends and performing concerts! The Jazz Choir will also collaborate with other York Jazz Initiative ensembles.

Rehearsals will be at Vale Of York Academy (formerly Canon Lee School) in York on Thursday evenings from 7:30pm till 9:00pm during term time.  

Budding jazz choir attendees can register their interest on the York Jazz Initiative website and will be sent information shortly.

York Music Forum Jazz Orchestra is recruiting!

Calling all young musicians in York - the York Music Forum Jazz Orchestra is now recruiting to welcome some new players into the fold. Led by Ian Chalk, this ensemble is an ambitious group of musicians under 21 that rehearses weekly and performs numerous times a year.

MD Ian Chalk says...

We are one of the best youth jazz orchestras in the country and we are recruiting!

Does this sound like you -

- Play alto sax, trombone or trumpet
- grade 8 standard (taken exam or not)
- Prepared to commit to make great music 
- Able to rehearse on Thursday evenings

Contact our musical director Ian Chalk on ian@yorkmusicservice.co.uk 

For more information on the York Music Forum, visit their website and to see the Jazz Orchestra in action, watch the video above of their performance of 'Count Bubba'. 

Efficient Brass Playing workshop with Ian Chalk

Jazz trumpeter Ian Chalk will run a one day workshop for brass players in August entitled 'Dispelling Myths & Building Strong Foundations'.

The workshop will cover all the fundamentals of brass playing and aims to give participants a comprehensive understanding on their instruments how to develop good habits.

The full day costs £60 and will take place in York, date and exact location to be announced. Ian is currently trying to gauge interest and invites people interested in attending to contact him via his website which can be found at http://www.ianchalk.net/

Jazz North Education Conference - Speakers Announced

Jazz North have announced the speakers that will take part in this year's jazz education conference on March 8th at Leeds College of Music.

Gary Crosby OBE will give the keynote address, discussing his work with Tomorrow's Warriors and his experience in supporting and mentoring young musicians as they transition into professional careers.

Gary will be joined by NYMAZ director Heidi Johnson, renowned improvising guitarist Chris Sharkey and trumpeter and educator Ian Chalk

A limited number of spaces are still available for those wishing to attend and full information can be found on the Jazz North website.

Big Band Jazz in York, December 9th

December is always a good time for live jazz in the North, as groups perform special performances marking the end of the year in the build up to the 25th. This year it's no different and trumpeter Ian Chalk continues to be incredibly busy, bringing three ensembles to the Post Office Club in York for a Big Band extravaganza on December 9th.

The performance showcases three ensembles that Ian MDs as part of the York Jazz Initiative - the Youth Jazz Orchestra, Youth Jazz Ensemble and the York Big Band Initiative. Expect a varied programme of music from classic big band canon (Night Train, A Child Is Born...), more contemporary charts (Bird Land, Deacon Blues) and the odd festive number thrown in for good measure.

Tickets cost £5, under 18s go free. Doors open at 7pm at Post Office Club, Marygate, York.

York announces plans to become centre of excellence in jazz

Recently, we reported on a new big band starting in York, led by Ian Chalk as part of the York Jazz Initiative. Well, this week more information was released about the plans they have to make York a centre for excellence in Jazz.

Launching in September, the initiative will include streaming lessons and classes offered to those at any level who wish to know more about jazz. The programme will be based at Canon Lee School in York but will offer lessons in the form of skype, e-books and face-to-face.

In an article published in the York Press, Ian Chalk said

We're determined to make York a centre of excellence in the north of England for jazz education for young people and adults. Large ensembles, small groups, individual tuition, distance learning, workshops, attention to detail and passion for an important art form. 

Read the York Press article here and visit the York Jazz Initiative website for more information.

New Youth Jazz Orchestra in York seeks players

Jazz educator Ian Chalk has announced that a new Youth Jazz Orchestra will be starting in York in September.

The ensemble will be run as part of the York Jazz Initiative and their aim is that 'this youth ensemble will be one of the finest in the UK and something that York can be really proud of.'

Rehearsals will run on Saturday afternoons during term time and the ensemble is open to anyone under 21 (through audition or invitation). Some of the chairs have already been filled, but Ian is on the look-out for the following -

Piano
2 trombones
1 tenor sax
1 (possibly 2) trumpets
guitar

Anyone interested in taking part should get in touch via the email address listed on the flyer above.

Gig preview: Big Band Bonanza in York, June 6th

Three big bands in York are combining forces to host a night of live music at St Clements Hall in York on June 6th.

MD for all three groups, trumpeter Ian Chalk, will lead York Big Band Initiative, York Music Forum Jazz Ensemble and York Music Forum Big Band through their paces showcasing the wealth of young musicians and adult learners on the York music scene.

Tickets cost £5 and are available on the door or through the York Music Service website. Doors open at 6.45pm and the first band is on at 7pm.

New Jazz Workshops start in York

Trumpeter and educator Ian Chalk is starting a new series of workshops in York commencing November 20th.

The workshops are aimed at adults (16+) with little or no previous knowledge of jazz and play melody instruments (not drummers or percussionists). Over the 10 week course, the workshops will cover areas including jazz harmony, history and solo construction amongst other things.

Alongside the course, Ian has prepared materials and recordings to allow students to practice and work on exercises at home.

Each session cost £10 and are payable in blocks of 6. Only 10 spaces are available so people may be swapped to a different class if necessary.

For more information, visit the York Music Service website.