WAYJO’s Season Celebration: Hyde Park

Join the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra on the lawns of Hyde Park for a Sunday afternoon of jazz and the first concert of 2024!

This free, family-friendly event features music from all three big bands: Monday Night Orchestra, St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, and Wednesday Night Orchestra.

You’ll also be the first to hear about WAYJO’s upcoming events, tours, the special international guest artists joining the orchestras this year, and what’s in store for the programs supporting emerging musicians.

Pack a picnic and come listen to the swingin’ sounds of jazz from your favourite youth jazz orchestra in the lush green surrounds of Hyde Park, this year introducing some of the youngest performers yet!

WAYJO’s Season Celebration: Hyde Park
3-5pm, Sun 24 March 2024
Free event – all invited!

WAYJO thanks Government Partner the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries, Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation, MinterEllison, and St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra Naming Rights Partner for their continued support.


Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History [SOLD-OUT]

Please note this event is sold out. Door sales will not be available on the night but we encourage you to join the waitlist to be notified if tickets become available. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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Celebrate 50 years of the Perth Jazz Society (PJS) and 40 years of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) with this one-off concert and heritage event celebrating the history of West Australian jazz.

Join legends of WA jazz as they pay homage to the local scene. Discover how these organisations have driven the scenes development in an event that intermingles live music, videos and historical asides.

This event includes an eclectic live set of important WA jazz compositions that chart the jazz scene’s evolution. It will also highlight its history through the launch of newly-recorded video interviews with some of the people behind the PJS and WAYJO.

Physical materials and ephemera relating to the history of each organisation will also be on display.

This event runs outside the Library’s opening hours. Access will be provided from the entrance to the building from the Perth Cultural Centre at 6:30pm. Please note that the Francis St. entrance to the building will be closed.

Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History
6:30pm – 8:30pm, Saturday 9 December 2023
State Library of Western Australia
Admission: $10-$15
BOOK TICKETS


WAYJO’s Best of 2023

WAYJO’s Best of 2023 is the final performance of WAYJO’s 40th year and an opportunity to showcase all three orchestras and their favourite repertoire of the year set at the beautiful the Quarry Amphitheatre on Saturday 18 November.

WAYJO’s Best of 2023
7:30pm – 10pm, Saturday 18 November
Quarry Amphitheatre
BOOK TICKETS


WAYJO NC plays The Ellington

The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra Northern Corridor Band assists in the development of young musicians who have an interest in playing big band jazz. This ensemble focuses on the growth of its members through developing deeper musical understanding, leadership, and camaraderie.

The band is currently comprised of students from 12 different schools across Perth and the Peel region, with students travelling from Mandurah to Duncraig for the weekly rehearsals.

These young musicians are driven by a love of jazz that is palpable in their on-stage presence and commitment to their craft. They’ll be showcasing a myriad of big band tunes from iconic bands like Count Basie and Duke Ellington, right through to modern compositions by Perth’s own, Gemma Farrell.

Come and experience the next generation of Australian jazz legends before they become famous!

Music Director: Jess Herbert

WAYJO NC PLAYS THE ELLINGTON
Sunday 29 October 2023
Doors: 3pm
Show: 3:30pm to 4:30pm
The Ellington Jazz Club
Book Tickets


Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO

Join us as the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra brings the swing and celebrates some of the greats: the Count, the Duke, and the Voice.

Performing the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra and more, WAYJO’s MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra will be joined on stage by the extraordinary David Theak – a highly accomplished saxophonist and leading Australian jazz educator from Sydney.

Head of Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium, co-artistic director of the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and artistic director of the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival, David Theak is a passionate advocate for big bands and has toured the world with his quartet, Theak-tet.

As he pays tribute to the great tenor saxophonists of the swing era, and maybe even sings a song or two – don’t miss this special evening of vintage rhythms, sophisticated sounds, and timeless classics.

Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Saturday 16 September
Downstairs at The Maj
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Swingin' at St Stephen's

WAYJO presents Swingin’ at St Stephen’s, proudly supported by St Stephen’s School.

From high school jazz musician to WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) member and beyond, join us for a night of swingin’ classics as we celebrate WAYJO’s Pathways Program and its ongoing relationship with St Stephen’s School in the development of young jazz musicians in WA.

Featuring WAYJO’s MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra with special guest artist David Theak (NSW) and support from WAYJO’s Northern Corridor Band and St Stephen’s Swing Band, these three big bands will be performing the music of the greats including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and more at St Stephen’s School’s state-of-the-art performance venue in Duncraig.

In national recognition of WAYJO’s Act Belong Commit Pathways Program made up of ‘Progressions’ for female-identifying and non-binary instrumentalists as well as the ‘Northern Corridor Band’, a high-school based big band that attracts students from Perth’s northern corridor and as far as Mandurah, Rockingham and Byford to rehearse at St Stephen’s School in Duncraig; the Pathways program was recently nominated as a finalist in the prestigious Art Music Awards for Excellence in Music Education for 2022.

Providing inspiration and opportunity for students to perform and develop, on the night they’ll be joined by a special guest – accomplished saxophonist David Theak, who is head of Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium, co-artistic director of the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and artistic director of the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival.

Don’t miss the special evening of vintage rhythms and timeless classics as WAYJO presents Swingin’ at St Stephen’s, proudly supported by St Stephen’s School.

WAYJO thanks Government Partner the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries, Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation, MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra Naming Rights Partner, City of Joondalup and Healthway Act-Belong-Commit for their continued support.

Swingin’ at St Stephen’s
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Friday 15 September
St Stephen’s School Theatre, Duncraig
BOOK TICKETS


Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO

Join us as the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra brings the swing and celebrates some of the greats: the Count, the Duke, and the Voice.

Performing the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra and more, WAYJO’s MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra will be joined on stage by the extraordinary David Theak – a highly accomplished saxophonist and leading Australian jazz educator from Sydney.

Head of Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium, co-artistic director of the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and artistic director of the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival, David Theak is a passionate advocate for big bands and has toured the world with his quartet, Theak-tet.

As he pays tribute to the great tenor saxophonists of the swing era, and maybe even sings a song or two – don’t miss this special evening of vintage rhythms, sophisticated sounds, and timeless classics.

Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Thursday 14 September
Fishtrap Theatre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
BOOK TICKETS


Young Women in Jazz Concert (2022)

Progressions

Progressions, WAYJO’s Pathways Program for female identifying and non-binary instrumentalists encompassing workshops focused on jazz and improvisation, takes to the stage for their 2023 showcase under the Musical Direction of Gemma Farrell.

Run in Perth since 2014 and developed in 2002 by Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) and Dr. Sandy Evans OAM, these workshops have seen young female and non-binary musicians build support networks, refine their skills, and increase confidence while learning about jazz and improvised music from some of Perth’s most accomplished jazz professionals.

We invite you to support these talented young people as they demonstrate their newly acquired skills in a fun and inspirational performance at the culmination of 8-weeks of intensive workshopping.

Progressions
6pm – 8pm, Sunday 2 July
Lyric’s Underground
BOOK TICKETS

Progressions is presented in association with the Sydney Improvised Music Association, with venue support by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Progressions is part of WAYJO’s Pathways Education Program, supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message, and major partner The Minderoo Foundation.


Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente

The WA Youth Orchestra (WAYJO) presents Mambolicious – a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tito Puente, one of the most influential Latin big band leaders of all time. Featuring one of Australia’s greatest trumpet players, Mat Jodrell, with the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, these shows will have your feet tapping and hips shaking to the sounds of Latin jazz and mambo.

Mat Jodrell recently returned to Australia after eight years living and performing in New York City and teaching at Juilliard School of Music. He’s performed with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, and the Mingus Big Band to name a few, and has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America, and the Middle East, performing at festivals and world-famous jazz clubs.

Paying homage to Tito Puente’s seminal big band recordings, Jodrell’s screaming trumpet licks accompanied by the infectious swing of the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra (directed by Marty Pervan) is a night you’re not going to want to miss.

Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Saturday 1 July
The Milk Bar, Inglewood
BOOK TICKETS


Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente

The WA Youth Orchestra (WAYJO) presents Mambolicious – a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tito Puente, one of the most influential Latin big band leaders of all time. Featuring one of Australia’s greatest trumpet players, Mat Jodrell, with the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, these shows will have your feet tapping and hips shaking to the sounds of Latin jazz and mambo.

Mat Jodrell recently returned to Australia after eight years living and performing in New York City and teaching at Juilliard School of Music. He’s performed with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, and the Mingus Big Band to name a few, and has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America, and the Middle East, performing at festivals and world-famous jazz clubs.

Paying homage to Tito Puente’s seminal big band recordings, Jodrell’s screaming trumpet licks accompanied by the infectious swing of the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra (directed by Marty Pervan) is a night you’re not going to want to miss.

Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Friday 30 June
Margaret River HEART
BOOK TICKETS