About Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra

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WYJO was formed in 2002 to provide Wiltshire’s most talented young jazz musicians with an opportunity to work at the highest level with other like-minded young musicians.

The members come from across the county and meet at least three times a year for courses and concerts. They receive tuition in technique, repertoire, ensemble work, improvisation and performance skills.

WYJO is a regular contributor at the Marlborough Jazz Festival and in 2008 performed at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.

In 2008, guest tutor Mike Mower gave a series of intensive workshops on The Wiltshire Suite, which he wrote and which was commissioned by WYJO with the support of the Performing Rights Society. WYJO gave the first performance of the suite in October 2008 at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, and the first broadcast performance on Easter Monday 2009.

These unique achievements have been made possible by the orchestra’s professional team of conductors and tutors including Chris Holmes, Mike Daniels, Ralf Dorrell and internationally renowned Mike Mower.

How to join the Wiltshire Youth Jazz orchestra

The opportunity to join the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra is open to all Wiltshire young musicians currently in full-time education. The minimum standard required is Grade 5 or equivalent.

There are only a certain number of places in the jazz orchestra so places are allocated to those on the waiting list with the greatest experience when a vacancy becomes available. We currently have some vacancies. To apply for the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra Applicaton form - Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra please complete the form 57kb.  If applications exceed the number of places available, applicants will be selected through audition.

For further information, please contact Lesley Meredith on 01225 713871(Monday and Friday morning) or 01225 860115 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning).

Membership Subscription

The subscription for each member is £99 per annum for members paying in full before 31 December 2010. For payments made per course the price is £35 per course. (Additional fees may apply for special festivals and tours).

We are always sympathetic towards cases of genuine need and no one should hesitate to apply to join the orchestra because of financial concern. To apply for remission of fees please write to Valerie Hayward, Head of Service, marking the envelope ‘confidential'.

Last updated: 2 December 2010