The award-winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform at Southport Jazz Festival this Saturday (4th February 2023).
The Orchestra, which has worked with a number of the world’s top musicians including Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous, Phil Woods, Conti and Pete Condoli, Eric Marienthal, James Morrison and many more, will play at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport town centre from 12.30pm. Tickets are £10, available here.
Formed in 1976 by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, this multi-award winning band aims to train and develop the musical skills of its members through the performance of big band music from 1930’s to the present day.
Over the years, WYJO has received many national and international honours, most notably from the BBC Radio Big Band Competition, the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Competition and the National Festival of Music for Youth.
The band is three times winner of the Great North Big Band Festival winning the top prize in 2014, 2015 and 2019 and they have been invited to perform at the prestigious National Festival of Music for Youth on many occasions.
Since 1985 the Orchestra has released eleven albums. These albums have sold to over twenty-five countries and are broadcast regularly on radio stations throughout the world. The most recent recordings feature guest soloists Eric Marienthal (2016) and James Morrison (2018) and were recorded live at Wigan International Jazz Festival.
WYJO has clocked up an impressive list of touring destinations including the USA, Russia, Israel, Kuala Lumpur, Australia and South Africa as well as throughout Europe. The most recent venture abroad was in summer 2018 when WYJO joined with Wigan Youth Symphony Orchestra to tour Poland.
Every year brings personnel changes in the orchestra. Many members go on to study at Music Conservatoire and forge careers in the professional music world. Drawing on the work of its training ensembles Wigan Schools Swing Band and Wigan Youth Big Band, there are always new and eager young players waiting in the wings to fill vacancies.
The 2023 Southport Jazz Festival takes place this weekend with some of the UK’s biggest names in jazz.
Music lovers can enjoy the three-day spectacle at The Grand on Lord Street from Friday 3rd February to Sunday 5th February 2023.
Southport Jazz Festival is being organised for the first time by acclaimed local musicians Jez Murphy and Emma Holcroft, who have taken over from Neil Hughes.
There are 10 performances in total across the three days with people able to attend the show of their choice, or to buy a day pass, or to buy a Weekender Ticket with all 10 shows for just £150.
You can buy tickets and see more details at the southportjazz.co.uk website.
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