An overview of NYJO
The Nottinghamshire Youth Jazz Orchestra exists to enable young, talented local musicians to develop their shared interest, skill & enjoyment in playing & performing jazz. With an emphasis on live performance, NYJO players develop lots of practical skills in addition to honing their musicianship and having a good time!
NYJO players gain excellent professional tuition from resident and visiting tutors and develop performance abilities, including improvisation, in weekly rehearsals and through gigs. NYJO is friendly, well-focused & good fun – providing an environment where everyone learns from and supports one another!
NYJO started in March 2008 and has charity status (as part of Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchestra – NYO, No. 519861) although it aims to be self-funding. There are 3 bands – a training band called NYJO2, a big band of around regular 25 members and a combo formed from a sub-set of these players. The NYJO combo has around 8 players and provides the most intensive jazz experience in terms of developing improvisation skills and performing gigs.
Membership of NYJO is by audition which can be at any time and interested players can arrange to drop in to a rehearsal to get a first-hand impression of what’s involved. There is an annual subscription and fees are subsidised by income that NYJO earns from gigs. Also, bursaries towards fees are available on a discretionary basis, related to meeting certain criteria. NYJO has an inclusive policy for young people in the Nottinghamshire area and has a simple ‘code of conduct’ with expectations on players that include share your enjoyment of playing, be on time and prepared and ‘know there’s a job to be done’.
What have been the achievements of NYJO to date? An important ‘everyday’ achievement that merits celebration is the regular commitment of NYJO players to rehearsals and public performances. Also, there is solid support from tutors and a group of volunteers who are ‘Friends of NYJO’. Many highlights for NYJO are mentioned in more detail on NYJO’s website at www.nottsnyjo.co.uk. We provide a summary here…
Early in the life of NYJO, the Combo performed in the foyer of the Royal Concert Hall, supporting a concert premiere of a jazz concerto performed by the NYO. The legendary, and sadly now late, Sir John Dankworth was the composer and was there with his wife Dame Cleo Lane.
NYJO is part of the community, for example performing for a senior citizens club at the Frank Weldon School and at the Portland College near Mansfield, for resident students with physical disabilities.
NYJO regularly provides entertainment for parents and friends at its ‘resident venue’ www.lakesidetower.co.uk. Christmas concerts & summer barbecue gigs are special family events! At this venue, NYJO has performed to civic dignitaries from the East Midlands and for a wedding reception. Other performances have been in a carnival procession at Radcliffe-on-Trent and at private Garden Parties.
NYJO enjoys having a varied repertoire and the services of an excellent music arranger! At a Big Band concert, held at the Bonington Theatre, NYJO performed with its own and guest vocalists for ‘A Night at the Musicals’, a cabaret-style evening. At the Royal Concert Hall, NYJO joined with a large strings section from the NYO, a combined local youth choir and its own vocalists in arrangements of popular show tunes.
NYJO is proud to have a regular Sunday lunchtime gigs at the Palace Theatre in Newark during Spring. A loyal audience is most supportive of NYJO’s concerts.
By way of developing the players’ skills and experience, NYJO commissioned a day’s Jazz Workshop from professional musician Snake Davis. Lessons about breathing and how to approach practise were among many insights gained. We hope to have more workshops in future and explore ‘cross-over’ exchanges in music making with other local youth organisations involved with jazz.
NYJO believes that participation in local and national competitions is also important for the valuable feedback and to learn from other performers.
Players, in particular the older ones, are encouraged to listen to live jazz music which they do at local venues such as those organised by Jazz Steps and Derby Jazz.
NYJO aims to keep in touch with its alumni, some of whom have gone on to study music and are keen to ‘guest’ with NYJO when the opportunity arises. Their collaboration provides a further inspiration to current NYJO members and is welcomed by all.
Please contact us via our website.
About NYJO
Thursday, 4 March 2010
