Clarinet Virtuoso Adrian Galante Swings with WAYJO, August 6-7
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) are proud to present a show of swinging big band jazz with special guest clarinet virtuoso Adrian Galante, Downstairs at His Majesty’s Theatre, 6-7 August.
The 1930s were the Golden Age of Swing and the height of jazz as popular music. The clarinet was the instrument that shot Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Woody Herman into stardom and cemented them into jazz history.
Adrian Galante, Perth’s very own clarinet superstar, performs swing classics like ‘Begin the Beguine’, ‘Flying Home’, and ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ with the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra.
“The swinging sounds of the big band era is what began my love of jazz when I was a child…” states Adrian. “At that time I had just started playing the clarinet and was utterly enamoured by the sounds of Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and all the wonderful bands of the period.
It is not often that I get to play this repertoire, so I am very excited to be revisiting some of the wonderful arrangements that first sparked my love of jazz all those years ago, and to be working with the wonderful young talents of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra.”
Don’t miss this concert set to impress discerning swing jazz enthusiasts, and fans of slick liquorice stick licks!
Adrian appears thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
What people are saying about Adrian’s playing;
“This young man is one of those musicians you can’t ignore; he commands the attention of both audience and fellow performers alike with his prodigious technique and flair for presentation. Mostly one must choose between hearing a serious musician or experiencing someone who can connect with the audience, Adrian is that rare person who understands the ‘performing’ part of performing arts without any compromise in musicianship or passion for the music.” – Jazz Trumpeter, James Morrison.
WAYJO presents The Golden Age of Swing
MinterEllison MNO with special guest Adrian Galante
Fri 6 & Sat 7 Aug, 7.30pm
Downstairs at The Maj, Perth | Tickets ptt.wa.gov.au/wayjo
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #JazzAtTheMaj #GoldenAgeOfSwing
Act Belong Commit Jazz at The Maj for Schools
Students and teachers may also enjoy a special 1-hour school concert-workshop with Adrian, Friday 6 August, 3.00pm.
School workshops are great value at just $15 (+bf) per student or teacher/parent – plus you receive 1 complimentary ticket per 9 purchased. School bookings can only be made by calling Perth Theatre Trust group bookings on 6212 9291, or email groups@ptt.wa.gov.au
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #ActBelongCommit #JazzSchool #GoldenAgeOfSwing
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
WAYJO NC - A New Training Band in Perth's Northern Suburbs
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra is coming to Perth’s Northern Corridor to develop young musicians who have an interest in playing jazz and contemporary music styles on their instrument.
WAYJO NC is a new training orchestra for high school students wishing to extend themselves and learn how to read and play various styles of music including jazz, funk, latin and rock.
Rehearsals will be in big band format, and involve learning phrasing, articulation and other basic improvisational techniques.
Included with regular rehearsals will be masterclasses, demonstrations, and mentoring from current WAYJO Members, WAAPA Students, plus experienced WAYJO Alumni.
Eligibility: School students Years 7 to 12 – no audition required.
Instruments: Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Guitar (limited places), Bass, Piano and Drums.
When: Tuesday evenings 6.30pm to 8.00pm, July 20 to September 21, 2021 (Term 3).
Location: St Stephen’s Music Department – Duncraig Campus (West of Hepburn Ave Freeway Exit) 100 Doveridge Drive Duncraig WA 6023.
Cost: $120 per Term (plus $7.69 booking fee).
Questions: For more information please visit wayjo.com – email admin@wayjo.com – or call (08) 9471 1950 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).
WAYJO is an equal opportunity organisation – we support diversity and encourage all interested musicians to apply.
Registrations open 9.00am Monday 5 July and will close when all places are filled, or Monday 19 July at 5.00pm (whichever occurs first). With only 20 places available, you’d better book soon at wayjo.com/education/wayjonc
WAYJO’s Pathways Program is supported by Minderoo Foundation
and Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message
2021 WAYJO Composer Residencies Announced
Now in its 14th year, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence program has annually supported two emerging composers to develop new works for a large jazz ensemble, offering both generous commission fees and artistic mentorship.
This year’s Composer Residencies were chosen from a very competitive field of emerging composers from all over the country. The decision was extremely difficult this year, with so much exceptionally well written and creative music submitted for the panel to assess.
Congratulations to WAYJO 2021 Composer in Residence recipients Brendan Keller-Tuberg (ACT) and Reece Clark (WA).
Both composers will bring fresh and creative perspectives to their commissions, which you can hear premiered by the WAYJO WNO at The Modern Masters concert, with special guest Jamie Oehlers, Friday 22 October at Lyric Lane.
For more information about WAYJO’s annual composer in residence program and commissioning, please visit wayjo.com/composer-in-residence
Contacts
Mace Francis
WAYJO Artistic Director
mace.francis@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
WAYJO Club 2021 Semester Two
WAYJO Club is an exciting new opportunity introduced 2021 for aspiring instrumentalists and vocalists, aged 12-18 years, to learn about and participate in jazz music making with WAYJO in a social and inclusive setting.
NO AUDITION is required to take part, WAYJO Club is open to all young musicians with a basic understanding of music.
Delivered as a combination of both online and in-person sessions (pandemic advisories permitting), WAYJO Club offers access to networks, resources, content, open rehearsals and jazz day-camps.
Try your hand at playing big band music, section work, improvisation, plus meet and network with other young jazz musicians, while learning from some of the best jazz educators WA has to offer!
With the year is divided into two separate semester programs – WAYJO now have a limited number of registrations available for second semester;
SEMESTER 2
- August 3: Online Resources Sent
- September 7: Online Resources Sent
- September 12: Jazz Camp
- September 20: Invitation to an open rehearsal with the Monday Night Orchestra
- October 5: Online Resources Sent
- October 17: Jazz Camp and Audition Preparation
- November 2: Online Resources Sent
- November 17: Invitation to an open rehearsal with the Wednesday Night Orchestra
WAYJO CLUB FEES
- Single Semester: $150 (plus $9.34 booking fee)
2021 WAYJO Club second semester registrations open 9.00am Tuesday 1 June 2021, and close 5.00pm Tuesday 20 July 2021 – only if not filled prior (as places are limited)!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WAYJO CLUB
“[My son] had the best time! He said it was a brilliant day. There’s been a lot of new jazz compositions and jamming happening in our home since!”
“[My daughter] had a GREAT time yesterday and was talking about it for ages, she can’t wait to audition to join when the time comes but for now looking forward to the rest of WAYJO Club and Young Women in Jazz.”
WAYJO’s Education Program is supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message
WAYJO Club is also supported by Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation
Classic, Contemporary & Commissioned Jazz in June
WAYJO are back with Jazz at The Maj, presenting Basie & Beyond – A Journey Through Jazz Downstairs at The Maj 11-12 June.
Let WAYJO take you on a bold jazz journey from Basie and into the big band beyond! Enjoy classic jazz repertoire, artfully paired with reinvented contemporary standards, presented by the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra (MNO). The second half features the Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO) premiering exciting new works by WAYJO alumni Alana Macpherson, commissioned by the Minderoo Foundation.
WNO bring to life a set of all new music by the Downbeat award-winning composer and arranger. The music, inspired by the composer’s reflections on Australia, was composed during several lockdowns in Europe throughout 2020. This is a unique opportunity to see Alana Macpherson in action shaping the music that was composed specifically for the orchestra.
Alana is a Perth born is a saxophonist and composer currently based in Graz, Austria. Following the 2019 release of her debut album “All or Nothing At All”, Macpherson won the Downbeat Student Music Award for Large Ensemble Arrangement, as well as the 2018 WAM awards for “Best Brass/Woodwind/Strings Instrumentalist” and “Best Live Jazz Act”. She has toured with Emil Spanyi (Hungary), performed with the Vine Street Horns (Phil Collins), KUG Jazz Orchestra, Graz Composer’s Orchestra, James Morrison Big Band, and the Evan Sherman Big Band, among others. Macpherson has performed her works at the Perth International Jazz Festival, King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival, and Jazzwerkstatt Festival (Austria).
There’s something for all contemporary and jazz music fans in this bold big band program simply not to be missed.
Tickets to all Jazz at The Maj shows, including the The Golden Age of Swing in August, are available from ptt.wa.gov.au/wayjo
Alana appears thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
What people are saying about Alana’s Music;
“Alana is not only is an excellent saxophone player, but she is finding her own unique voice as a composer, arranger and band-leader. She’s a fan of Bob Brookmeyer’s music and you can hear a clear continuation of his concepts in her writing.” – Ed Partyka 2019
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #JazzAtTheMaj #BasieAndBeyond
Act Belong Commit Jazz at The Maj for Schools
Students and teachers may also enjoy a special 1-hour school concert-workshop with Alana, Friday 11 June, 3.00pm.
School workshops are great value at just $15 (+bf) per student or teacher/parent – plus you receive 1 complimentary ticket per 9 purchased. School bookings can only be made by calling Perth Theatre Trust group bookings on 6212 9291, or email groups@ptt.wa.gov.au
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #ActBelongCommit #JazzSchool #BasieAndBeyond
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Photos by Simon Reithofer, Reithofer Media
WAYJO Celebrate 7-Years of 'Young Women in Jazz' for International Women’s Day
Celebrating a return for its seventh year in Western Australia, WAYJO’s Young Women in Jazz (YWIJ) is an 8-week workshop program open to female identifying instrumentalists aged 14 - 25 who have an interest in jazz and improvised music.
Starting May 1, Saturday afternoon workshops are conducted at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (on the ECU Mt Lawley campus) in small groups by leading female educators, WAYJO Alumnae, plus special guest artists. The workshops culminate in a public concert at the Ellington Jazz Club, giving all participants the chance to explore their newly found skills before an audience in a professional venue.
“In the short time this course has been running we've seen a number of participants go onto successfully audition for the three WAYJO bands, plus audition and graduate for the WAAPA jazz course. We've had amazing guest artists in the past, and this year is no exception with pianist Sue Bluck and saxophonist Alana Macpherson joining us” states program coordinator Gemma Farrell.
“This course suits young women who are new to improvisation, plus more experienced musicians wanting to add to their skill set. It provides young, female identifying people with the opportunity to meet, rehearse, and learn in a judgement-free space, and as a result, we've already seen more women going on to study jazz. Young Women in Jazz is helping to address the gender imbalance in the Perth jazz scene, and is integral for the future of our scene."
Registrations for Young Women in Jazz 2021 do not require audition, and close Friday 30 April, 2021 at 5.00pm AWST.
For more information about WAYJO’s Young Women in Jazz program, please visit wayjo.com/young-women-in-jazz
WAYJO acknowledges program partners SIMA (Sydney Improvised Music Association), St John of God Health Care, and venue support from the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (Edith Cowan University).
The WAYJO Education Program is supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message.
Media Link: https://wayjo.com/2021-young-women-in-jazz
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #YoungWomenInJazz #ActBelongCommit #IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge
Contacts:
Gemma Farrell
WAYJO YWIJ Program Coordinator
education@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Introducing WAYJO Club
The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) will not be holding band auditions for 2021. COVID-19 caused the loss of rehearsal and performance opportunities through most of 2020, so WAYJO has offered 2020 band members continuation into 2021.
Instead we welcome to WAYJO Club, an exciting new opportunity for aspiring instrumentalists and vocalists, aged 12-18 years during 2021, to learn about and participate in jazz music making with WAYJO in a social and inclusive setting.
There will be NO AUDITION required to take part, WAYJO Club is open to all young musicians with a basic understanding of music.
WAYJO Club is a program that will give you access to networks, resources, content, open rehearsals and jazz day-camps. These will be delivered March-June & August-November as a combination of both online and in-person sessions (pandemic advisories permitting).
The year is divided into two separate semester programs – so you can choose to participate for a single semester, or book the full year in advance to enjoy a discount;
SEMESTER 1
- March 2: Online Resources Sent
- April 6: Online Resources Sent
- April 11: Jazz Camp
- April 14: Invitation to an open rehearsal with the Wednesday Night Orchestra
- May 4: Online Resources Sent
- May 11: Invitation to an open rehearsal with the Tuesday Night Orchestra
- June 1: Online Resources Sent
- June 20: Jazz Camp
SEMESTER 2
- August 3: Online Resources Sent
- September 7: Online Resources Sent
- September 12: Jazz Camp
- September 20: Invitation to an open rehearsal with the Monday Night Orchestra
- October 5: Online Resources Sent
- October 17: Jazz Camp and Audition Preparation
- November 2: Online Resources Sent
- November 17: Invitation to an open rehearsal with the Wednesday Night Orchestra
WAYJO CLUB FEES
- Single Semester: $150 (plus $9.34 booking fee)
- Full Year: $250 (plus $15.93 booking fee)
WAYJO Club semester 1 and full-year registrations open 9.00am Wednesday 18 November 2020, and close 5.00pm Monday 15 February 2021 – if not filled prior. Participants are limited to 50 per semester.
WAYJO’s Education Program is supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message
WAYJO Club is also supported by Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation
WAYJO Visits Abmusic
Wednesday 7 October WAYJO visited Abmusic to present a workshop on the concepts of jazz performance and improvisation. A trio, made up of Luke Geha (piano), Kieran Barnes (bass) and Cameron Fermoyle (drums), performed for the students and discussed the different roles in the jazz ensemble.
There was a really healthy and interesting discussion on the roles of each instrument, how band members interact, and rhythmic concepts in jazz. Many of the students come from an electronic music or hip hop background, so this was the first time experiencing live jazz for some.
"Feedback from our participants has been overwhelming, particularly with regard to musical communication" said Abmusic's CEO Patricia Alessi. "The participants trialled musical communication in their next rehearsal, and they found it to be incredibly helpful to ‘try what the jazz musicians did.’ Other comments from the workshop included, ‘Amazing!’ and ‘Mind-blowing!’ It is really changing how the musicians ‘talk’ to each other in rehearsals and performances... it has opened them up to a new soundworld."
WAYJO thanks Abmusic for the opportunity to visit the campus, and look forward to jamming & yarning about jazz again soon.
For more information about Abmusic, check out abmusic.com.au . You can visit the campus for NAIDOC Day Celebrations, 11am-3pm Wednesday 11 November. Enjoy live music, stalls, goodie bags, plus tours and information about their music and beauty courses. Abmusic are located close to Curtin University - 295 Manning Rd Waterford, on Clontarf Campus.
To celebrate NAIDOC week 2020, we encourage you to check out this and many of the other events happening 8-15 November by visiting naidoc.org.au
WAYJO Announces 2020 Season with an All-Australian Guest Artist Program
The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) launches its 2020 season, Homegrown, celebrating the depth of talent Australia has produced in the jazz scene, with a suite of Australian guest artists in an exciting program.
After a 2019 focus on the birthplace of jazz, the USA, featuring numerous sell-out performances, WAYJO brings a stunning array of Australian artists from interstate and abroad to perform with the company’s three 18-piece jazz big bands. As part of the Homegrown season, WAYJO have also commissioned a number of new compositions, presenting the World Premiere of nearly three hours of new music.
WAYJO recognises the importance of showcasing Australian musicians and the successes of over 35 years of WAYJO alumni on the Australian and international scenes. Our vision to “build the future of Australian jazz” is the cornerstone rationale behind the 2020 program, offering outstanding opportunities for young Western Australian musicians and providing WAYJO’s growing audience with fresh perspectives and experiences.
Homegrown kicks off with a tribute to one of Perth’s legendary and much missed venues, with Swinging at the Embassy Ballroom. From 1928 to 1982, the Embassy hosted many of Perth’s swinging jazz legends as well as artists from across the ocean, and WAYJO will remind nostalgic audiences of the music of those years on the main stage at His Majesty’s Theatre. Featuring all three of WAYJO’s big bands and guest vocalists Anita Wardell & Victoria Newton this will be a concert event for young and old alike.
Jazz at The Maj returns from May to October, featuring stunning concerts in the beautifully intimate Downstairs at The Maj. The season begins in May with WAYJO welcoming vocalist Kristin Berardi (Qld) in Polka Dots and Moonbeams. Kristin wowed Perthaudiences at the 2019 Perth International Jazz Festival with her sensuous voice and joins the WAYJO Tuesday Night Orchestra.
In June, WAYJO is proud to present a true legend of Australian jazz, pianist Judy Bailey (NSW) to perform My Favourite Things. A force of nature, Judy joins the WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra, Perth’s premiere big band in performing new jazz composition, for two unmissable concerts.
July sees WAYJO debuting our first major commissions for 2020. WAYJO alumni Andrew Murray (Vic) joins Artistic Director Dr Mace Francis to present Come Together. For the first time, the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra will perform works composed specifically for this ensemble, a rare challenge for the most junior WAYJO band. However, with well-known music like The Beatles’ “Come Together” receiving a whole new jazz arrangement audiences are sure to be surprised and enchanted in this World Premiere event.
One of WAYJO’s recent success stories, Alana Macpherson, alumna and former WAYJO Assistant Music Director, joins WAYJO in September for the second major commission of the year, All or Nothing At All. Alana, 2018 WAM Award winner as Best Brass/String/Woodwind Instrumentalist, studies her Masters of Jazz Composition at the MUG University of Music and Performing Arts, Austria, and brings her saxophone and composing skills to bear with the Wednesday Night Orchestra.
Toshi Clinch (Vic) offers his unique arrangements of classic Hollywood films to WAYJO in October to close out the Jazz at The Maj season with A Golden Age of Jazz on Film. Following the success of WAYJO’s 2019 concerts, Jazz at the Movies, these reimagined works of Quincy Jones, John Williams and more will be a family favourite.
WAYJO’s guest artist program is proudly supported by the Minderoo Foundation in their second year of partnership with WAYJO.
Punctuating the Homegrown season will be the return of the King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival in 2020. Showcasing the depth of talent in Western Australia, over 50 performances by the state’s emerging and established jazz acts will feature across the three days of the Festival. From big band to smaller intimate ensembles and solo musicians, King Street Corner Pocket is the most accessible and fun way to see multiple acts in the same night in easy walking distance. WAYJO will also present The Debut Collection during the Festival, featuring commissioned works from the company’s Composer-in-Residence program. King Street Corner Pocket is supported by the City of Perth.
The sell-out Jazz for Juniors returns as part of WAYJO’s ongoing Act-Belong-Commit education program, which also features dedicated schools concerts Downstairs at The Maj, and South-West and Geraldton Regional Tours.
Homegrown continues WAYJO’s focus on supporting the growth of jazz in the State and furthering the representation of female artists, with five of the seven guest artists programmed outstanding women in the field.
WAYJO’s 2019 season saw continued audience growth, with the Jazz at the Maj season reaching 92% of ticketed capacity, a 10% increase in audiences at Corner Pocket, and box office targets exceeded by 12%.
WAYJO is the small company that has WA’s arts community buzzing, with an exciting 2020 on the horizon.
WAYJO 2020 Season Overview
His Majesty’s Theatre
Swinging at the Embassy Ballroom
Featuring Anita Wardell and Victoria Newton
March 27
Downstairs at The Maj
"Jazz at The Maj"
Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Featuring Kristin Berardi
May 1 & 2
My Favourite Things
Featuring Judy Bailey
June 5 & 6
Come Together (World Premiere)
Featuring Andrew Murray and Mace Francis
July 3 & 4
All or Nothing At All
Featuring Alana Macpherson
September 4 & 5
A Golden Age of Jazz on Film
Featuring Toshi Clinch
October 2 & 3
Jazz for Juniors
April 14-15, July 7-8, September 29-30
King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival
Various Venues around King and Hay Streets, Perth – July 30 to August 1
WAYJO 2020 Sponsors
Government Partner Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries & Lotterywest
Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas
Guest Artist Partner The Minderoo Foundation
Education and Regional Tour Partner Healthway
Naming Rights Partner Monday Night Orchestra MinterEllison
Major Partner St John of God Health Care
Offical Partner Gerard Daniels
Hotel Partner InterContinental City Centre Perth
Festival Partner City of Perth
Venue Partners His Majesty’s Theatre & West Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Supporting Partners Minuteman Press Perth, City of Perth Parking, ActivIT & RTR FM 92.1
Media Contact
Simon Keen, WAYJO General Manager
simon.keen@wayjo.com
0407 990 483
2020 WAYJO Composer Residencies Announced
Now in its 13th year, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence program has annually supported two emerging composers to develop new works for a large jazz ensemble, offering both generous commission fees and artistic mentorship.
This year we had a large number of applications which makes the decisions very difficult. This is a good indication that jazz composition is still alive and well in this country, especially seeing the quality of the submissions.
However, only two composers could be selected to fill the Associate Composer in Residence and the Composer in Residence positions. They were chosen based on their previous work, education, and proposed ideas for the commission.
WAAPA composition graduate Maddie Ivy from WA was successful as the 2020 WAYJO Associate Composer in Residence.
Maddy has a great grasp on orchestration and craft, as well as creative ways of using the big band and a variety of genres and musical settings.
Des Cannings from NSW will be the 2020 WAYJO Composer in Residence.
Des’s skill and craft in writing for big band instrumentation and respect for the tradition was displayed in his previous work. Des hopes to push his concepts of melodic development and creative form in ways he has not previously been able to do.
The WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra will premier and record these young composer’s exciting new works at the 2020 King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival, running 30 July to 1 August.
For more information about WAYJO’s composer in residence program and commissioning, please visit wayjo.com/composer-in-residence
Contacts
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Mace Francis
WAYJO Artistic Director
mace.francis@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950