NYJO Academy Big Band - Apply Now

Calling young musicians across the UK; the NYJO Academy Big Band are holding auditions for new members in September and you have until Monday 21st August to apply to take part.

The band, led by drummer Sebastiaan De Krom, is the NYJO Academy’s flagship ensemble designed to equip talented young musicians with a solid foundation in the big band genre – helping to prepare them for entry into the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, further education or the music profession.

The NYJO Academy Big Band is structured around a series of ‘projects’ centred around the work of a particular composer or genre, such as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus or Loose Tubes.

We are on the lookout for promising musicians under the age of 20 to join the band. Auditioning is free but rehearsal sessions cost £100 per term (free for music students at university and bursaries are available). Candidates must be strong improvisers with sight reading ability, who are keen to improve their section playing and gain an in depth understanding of the big band tradition and its future.

Although the rehearsals take place in London, NYJO are committed to ensuring that no young musician misses out on participating in music making and as such, travel bursaries are available for non-London based musicians to be part of the band.

For full information on the band and how to be involved, see the NYJO Academy Big Band website.

Calling all young musicians: LCoM Generation Big Band

Leeds College of Music is welcoming applications for young musicians to take place in the newly assembled Generation Big Band.

From the LCoM website...

Generation Big Band at Leeds College of Music aims to bring together excellence across all generations of the Yorkshire jazz community.
Using cutting edge arrangements the band will consist of alumni who are working professionally in the music business, existing LCoM conservatoire students, along with up and coming young musicians who show great potential. Whilst this is a three-tier ensemble the emphasis is on quality and an opportunity to bring together the best of the best.
Through the audition process we are excited about reaching out especially to the younger jazz community and bringing together musicians who are passionate about improvising. Whilst places will be limited, this is a chance to connect with you, so please apply for an audition if you are interested – it might lead to other things.
The fee for young musicians is £125.

The deadline for applications is Midday on Wednesday 23rd November. Auditions will then take place on November 26th. There are 6 places available and while they would expect to receive applications from musicians aged over 14, they are open to applications from younger musicians too.

Congratulations to LCoM for this exciting initiative - bringing generations of musicians together to share music and learn from each other is a great idea!

For more information, visit the LCoM website.

NYJO are recruiting for 2017

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is recruiting for 2017 and are on the lookout for talented instrumentalist aged 24 and under from across the UK.

From the NYJO website...

You will work with NYJO’s Artistic and Music Director Mark Armstrong, performing an eclectic repertoire of new music and classics from the big band canon, giving inspiring concerts around the country and also be involved in delivering NYJO’s learning and participation programme. Successful applicants normally hold their position in the band for at least one year.

Recent NYJO highlights include performances at the EFG London Jazz Festival, a major European tour with the German and Dutch National Youth Jazz Orchestras, an annual residency at Ronnie Scott’s, recording a celebrated 50^th anniversary double-album ‘NYJO FIFTY’, and a landmark collaboration at the Barbican with Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“We are looking forward to auditioning potential new NYJO chair holders in January. Although an audition is a short amount of time to gauge a player’s potential, their choice of material and ability to play it, combined with sight-reading, gives a good indication of how they might fit in the band. For some really important chairs, a trial period may be needed to ensure the right person fills the role.”

“Although we rehearse in London every Saturday morning, through our partnership with Help Musicians we have the funds to help pay travel expenses to any players based away from London, should they be invited to attend regular rehearsals. Even if you are not successful in becoming a chair holder with the band, it is possible that you will be asked to be an ‘authorised deputy’ which means doing some gigs with the band, provided you can attend some rehearsals. We’re excited about hearing you play!”

Mark Armstrong, NYJO’s Artistic and Music Director 

Auditions will take place in London on January 7th and in Manchester on January 8th. Applications will be accepted until November 14th 2016.

For full infomation, see the NYJO website.

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'. 

National Youth Jazz Collective 2016 - Auditions and Deadlines

Deadlines for the National Youth Jazz Collective are fast approaching and NYJC are putting a last call out to young musicians who'd like to take part.

Auditions are being held across the country for places at the week long NYJC residential course in August. Successful auditionees will spend a week working with a team of tutors on improvisational technique, interaction and working within a small group. The tutors include Issie Barratt, Christine Jensen, Mark Lockheart, Mark Mondesir, Laura Jurd, Gareth Lockrane, Dominic Ashworth, Jeremy Price and Percy Pursglove.

Jazz North East are working with NYJC and will host the North East auditions at the Lit and Phil in Newcastle on Friday 8th April.

The deadline for applications is Friday 19th February and you can find full information on the National Youth Jazz Collective website.