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FYJO is an award winning big band located in Fife and
has been led for 35 years by our Musical Director,
Richard Michael, winner of the 2009 parliamentary jazz
award for services to jazz education. We play a
mixture of standards and brand new commissions.
We aim to offer players (aged 8 to 24),
regardless of initial standard or location, the chance
to play, enjoy and develop an interest in music,
especially jazz. Our Musical Director is
assisted by tutors Carlo Madden, Richard Ingham, Pete Petrie and
Margaret Douglass.
FYJO has played with many of the greats of the jazzscene including Tommy
Smith, Carol Kidd, Annie Ross and Fifes' own 'Big' Joe
Temperley, and have played
live on BBC Radio Scotlands'
"Jazzhouse"
programme.
FYJO has inspired many players to go onto study music
and pursue professional music careers. We are a self
financing Scottish Charity (SC039815) and invite
suitable sponsorship and donations. We aim to be a
catalyst for involving young people in jazz music
across the whole of Fife and beyond.
BBC
photos by kind permission of John Wood. Anstruther. Photos
courtesy of Chris Watt, Photographer.
A
WELCOME BOOST TO FIFE’S MUSIC EDUCATION
FYJO is forming a new youth band thanks to funding
from Creative Scotland (formerly Scottish Arts
Council).
The new initiative will encourage children to develop
their musical skills under the expert tuition of one
of the UK’s leading Jazz educators, Richard Michael. Richard has led the Fife
Youth Jazz Orchestra (FYJO) for 35 years, with many of
his ex-players now performing with some of the
greatest names in the jazz, rock and pop world.
Richard says “I believe that everyone who wants to
learn a musical instrument should have a chance to do
so. FYJO has been quietly honing the playing skills of
its students for many years and I'm delighted we've
been given a chance to encourage even more children to
experience the joy of making music”.
FYJO currently has one main band plus a small brass
section for complete beginners. This funding will
enable them to create a training band for children who
are not complete beginners, but who would like to
build their playing skills and confidence to prepare
them to join the main band.
Accommodating a large range of instruments, the new
players will take part in band rehearsals, workshops
and masterclasses with
professional musicians, and will have the chance to
perform in concerts and events throughout the year,
including the East Coast Youth Jazz Festival and the
Fife Jazz Festival.
Being part of FYJO is an excellent training ground for
all genres of music including jazz, with players
learning how to perform as part of a big band and
develop their interest in music - and most important
of all, there's lots of fun to be had along the way!
FYJO Chairman Jim Primrose says "We are dedicated to
enhancing and increasing music education in Fife and
we are delighted that our application for funding has
been successful. The new
band will provide an important 'stepping stone' for
all musicians, whether it be
for pleasure or the beginnings of a career in music."
Players travel from all over Fife and beyond. Any
budding musician is welcome to join as we have an open
door all-inclusive policy – and no auditions
necessary.
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