The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), Britain’s oldest organization for young people aged 25 and over, plays big-band jazz. The charity was founded 50 years ago in order to fill a gap with jazz education. Its mission is to produce exceptional music and engage young people from all backgrounds. NYJO’s youth are the core of its activities. The performing band is a world-class ensemble whose members are young enough that they can inspire and be recognized by children and audiences. It provides unique opportunities for members to perform internationally and nationally, and promote jazz to as many people as possible while they are still at the beginning stages of their musical careers. NYJO offers its members and participants in its educational programmes an opportunity to become part of a unique musical community that includes talented, passionate young musicians at a crucial point in their personal growth. It has 23 members, many of whom go on the to become professional musicians. This orchestra helped launch the careers of many well-known jazz musicians in the UK such as Guy Barker and Amy Winehouse. It performs approximately 40 times a year throughout the UK. Recent highlights include a residency at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, performing alongside Gregory Porter at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Germany with the German Youth Jazz Orchestra. NYJO has more than 40 albums and NYJO FIFTY, a celebratory double album was released in November 2015. NYJO also runs the NYJO Academy, which includes several training bands and a vocal group for young musicians with different abilities. The charity also hosts a series of inspiring workshops and educational events throughout the country in conjunction with its performance programme. These are intended to inspire and educate young people who love jazz and music. “Don’t believe all the hype… If you really want to hear the best, the NYJO projects… The National Youth Jazz Orchestra [is] an exciting, diverse collective that gives voice to all that is different, young, and exciting in Brit Jazz.” Jazzwise Magazine, Who To Watch in 2016, www.nyjo.org.uk
