To celebrate 20 years of inspirational and award-winning jazz educator Mike Daniels, we asked him to share highlights of working with the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO) and our youth jazz programme at Wiltshire Music Centre, plus our upcoming Big Jazz Weekend.
When/Why/How did you start working with WYJO?
WYJO started in 2002 set up by Pete Sneyd and Valerie Hayward (ex Head of Wiltshire Music Service). I was brass tutor and Chris Holmes, head of Salisbury Area Young Musicians was the music director. He retired in 2004 and I gladly took on the MD role as I had an interest in big bands already having set up GBH Big Band in 1999.
What have been some highlights of your time with WYJO? Any particular performances or guest artists?
Oh so many! Both foreign tours we’ve undertaken to Germany and France jointly with WEYO have been fun but the best music making has happened in the UK. Trombonist Mark Nightingale was one of my first proper guest solo artists playing with WYJO in the WMC and at the Wiltshire Jazz Festival in Dinton. Performances at Marlborough Jazz Festival and National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham all provided excellent excursions for WYJO. Nikki Iles was our first full post lockdown guest with superbly crafted pieces for jazz orchestra which the band played beautifully, she’s bringing her own band to play in November which will be a joy. Anything with long term friend and supporter of WYJO, Jason Rebello has been fabulous including Tim Garland and Claire Martin showing the breadth of the fabulous internationally regarded jazz fraternity we’ve had as guests. We commissioned Mike Mower who wrote the now notoriously fiendish Wiltshire Suite (branded cruel to youths by Ronnie Scott’s big band that performed it later!) which we took to the National Festival in Birmingham. The last concert to take place in March 2020, the week before lockdown with the stunning group Empirical was particularly special for obvious reasons creating vast amounts of energy! Our two projects with saxophonist Jason Yarde were also unforgettable as his seemingly endless creative energy brought exemplary performances from our players. Perhaps I should stop there!
Mike Daniels has been leading the jazz programmes at Wiltshire Music Centre for over 20 years. He was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Music Education Awards at the Wiltshire Music Education Awards 2024
Why is it important to encourage youth orchestras such as this one and what are the benefits of taking part?
Youth Orchestras and ensembles used to be associated with music services but, with disbandment of many of these opportunities for young people have changed but thankfully WEYO and WYJO have continued to thrive under the leadership of the WMC. Benefits in their multitude include providing opportunities for young musicians to make high quality music with like minded peers, forging life long friendships, creating a professional musical environment to lift standards as well as performing great music in a great concert hall!
What’s special about WYJO? Why should people support them?
Our jazz programme which includes Wiltshire Jazz Academy formed in 2017 as well as WYJO has helped inspire a plethora of young jazz musicians. Our work with NYJO and a procession of highly regarded jazz performers has enabled our musicians to aspire to greater musical heights and many have gone on to study jazz at conservatoires around the country including Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity College London, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Leeds College of Music. The connections we have made and ambitious projects in collaboration with others have created a special environment here in Bradford on Avon. We need support to continue this excellent work.
20 for 20 - Raising money for our youth orchestras
To celebrate 20 years of leadership of youth ensembles from Tim Redmond and Mike Daniels, give £20 for 20 to keep youth music education alive in Wiltshire.
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