Global Recognition: WAYJO band member and alumni head overseas

WAYJO always enjoys hearing the success stories of our band members, guest artists, and alumni, and so we are thrilled to share news from two former and current band members. 

Our Wednesday Night Orchestra lead alto, Holly Forster, has been accepted to go on exchange to the prestigious Frost School of Music in Miami this year! She’ll be following in the path of many of our great alumni who have studied there including Troy Roberts, Tim Jago, Daniel Susnjar, Jeremy Greig, Matt Smith, and Catherine Noblet. Holly is currently in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Music studying jazz saxophone at WAAPA and has been a dedicated member of WAYJO since 2018.

Former WAYJO member and current Progressions tutor, bassist Kate Pass, has been awarded a scholarship to complete a Master of Music at The New School’s College of Performing Arts in New York, as part of the Performer-Composer program.

We wish Holly and Kate every success as they go abroad for further jazz education.


2023 Composers-in-Residence

The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra is delighted to announce the selection of Composers-in-Residence for this year. As part of our commitment to supporting young jazz composers, we are offering these talented individuals the opportunity to develop new works, enhance their writing skills, and explore the art of conducting.

Under the guidance of WAYJO’s Artistic Director, Mace Francis, our Composer-in-Residence program has become a hallmark of excellence in the industry since its launch in 2008. We encourage the composers to consider innovative approaches to utilising the big band instrumentation of the WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra and contribute to the vibrant jazz landscape in WA.

Read about the selected composers below, learn more about our Composer-in-Residence program, and stay tuned for updates on their exciting compositions and upcoming performances!


Oliver Taylor

Oliver a saxophonist, composer and music teacher based in Perth, Western Australia. He’s been playing the saxophone for nearly a decade, as well as picking up the clarinet and flute along the way. He has a deep passion for music and musical education.

Oliver completed an honours degree from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2021 and was awarded a $1200 prize for presenting the best honours recital in his graduating year.

Oliver is currently a member of WAYJO’s Wednesday night band and has a been a member since 2020. Oliver performs regularly around Perth, typically as a sideman playing jazz, swing, funk, blues, pop, and contemporary music.


Max Grynchuk

Max is a Ukrainian-born trumpeter, composer, and arranger based in Adelaide, Australia. He completed his Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours specialising in Jazz Performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide in 2018. During his time at university, Max was the recipient of several awards including the Howell Ross Award for Top Trumpet Undergraduate (2017), and the Keith & Susie Langley Memorial Award for Best Overall Honours Graduate (2019). He was also the recipient of the Mike Stewart Award (2019) presented by the Helpmann Academy and JazzSA, which was valued at $10,000 and required a grant proposal.

Max began writing for big band at age 14. At 16 he was commissioned to write for the JazzSA Superbands, contributing eight original works between 2012-2015. In 2018, Max was selected as the programs inaugural Composer-In-Residence, writing a further eight pieces that year alone. In 2019, Max returned to the program as a band director.

Max has recorded three albums as leader of his own big band. The band’s debut album ‘As For Now’ (2021) consisted of nine of Max’s originals compositions and featured special guest appearances from saxophonist Will Vinson and guitarist James Muller. The band’s second album, ‘Max Grynchuk Big Band Plays Eraser Description’ (2021), featured five of Max’s arrangements of the music of synth-funk trio Eraser Description. A follow up album, ‘Max Grynchuk Big Band Plays Eraser Description Vol. II’ was released in August 2022 featuring six new arrangements. Two of Max’s works were also featured on the Mike Stewart Big Band’s 2021 album ‘The Hang’.

Over 40 of Max’s big band compositions and arrangements are available for purchase through his website. He has sold works to high school and tertiary institutions around the world, including in the US, UK, Japan, France, and Luxembourg. Locally, Max’s pieces have been regularly performed by high school bands at festivals such as Generations in Jazz, and he has also written several big band division set pieces for the ABODA Band & Orchestra Festival.

Since 2016, Max has been the arranger for the annual Carols in the Park event hosted by the Tea Tree Gully council, the most recent of which attracted a crowd of 45,000. He has also been the primary arranger for the Royal Australian Navy Band SA since 2013, in which time he has contributed over 70 specialised arrangements for a variety of ensembles including big band, rock band and parade band.

Since 2015, Max has performed as a member of the Hilltop Hoods horn section. He has played at festivals such as Falls Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Groovin’ the Moo, as well as the Australian leg of their world tour, and as a support act for Eminem’s tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Max is currently the Bands Coordinator at St. Peter’s College SA.


Jessica Carlton

Jessica is a trumpet player and composer originally from Melbourne, Australia; now living in Perth.

Jessica graduated high school from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance (Jazz Trumpet) from Monash University (2015) where she was awarded the Monash Jazz Prize (2014). Later in 2014, she released her first album ‘Not Alone’ and with this was nominated for the Bell Awards’ Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year. After living in New York for two years, Jessica moved back to Australia and moved to Perth for the first time in 2018. In 2021 she was nominated for the Music Trust’s Freedman Jazz Fellowship where she submitted a proposal about composing music about the feminist movement in China. Jessica recorded some of that music on a collaborative quartet album (with Kate Pass, Talya Valenti, and Alana Macpherson) entitled ‘Undeniable’ (released 2022). In 2022, Jessica was also nominated for WAM’s Best Brass Instrumentalist.

Jessica received the higher degree by research scholarship at WAAPA and is currently undertaking a research project about musical ekphrasis (transforming visual art and poetry into music composition and improvisation).

Jessica has been teaching trumpet for the past ten years and is very passionate about good quality, empathetic, and equitable education for young students. As an autistic woman of colour, Jessica is also deeply passionate about gender and racial equality, as well as disability inclusion and awareness, particularly in education and music performance.


Tom Salleo - 2022 WAYJO AMD

2023 WAYJO Assistant Music Director Applications Open

Applications extended until Friday 2 December, 2022 - 12.00pm AWST

Proudly supported by the Simon Lee Foundation, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) Assistant Musical Director program annually offers a mentoring traineeship for a young and emerging musical director.

The program is a unique opportunity to develop skills in conducting a large orchestral band, programming repertoire for an 18-piece big band, and developing the leadership skills required to inspire and enhance the skills and experience of young band members.

Experienced, music reading musicians aged 18 to 35 years during 2023 are invited to apply for this position, which runs at the WAYJO studio in Maylands, Western Australia.

Applications for 2023 WAYJO Assistant Musical Director open 9.00am, Monday 10 October, and close 5.00pm, Monday 28 November, 2022.

Head to wayjo.com/assistant-musical-director for details and application form – there is no cost to apply for this opportunity.

2023 WAYJO AMD Applications

“Training under the MD’s Ricki, Marty, and Mace has been an invaluable experience, which I have tapped into when working with my own bands and projects.

I’ve mostly enjoyed getting to know everyone throughout the year. After months of working and playing together, there’s a real sense of kinship between all the band members and staff alike.

Being a part of WAYJO and building connections with the team (MD’s, office staff, current members, and alumni) has opened up so many exciting career and musical opportunities for me.

I can’t imagine where my path would have led without WAYJO, and I hope to work here again in the future.”

Tom Salleo – 2022 WAYJO Assistant Musical Director

 

Photograph of Tom Salleo by Josh Wells (2022).


WAYJO MNO (2022)

2023 WAYJO Band Auditions Open

2023 WAYJO Band Audition registrations open Monday 19 September for people wishing to participate in the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) in the coming year. Musicians interested in learning jazz performance and improvised big band music, aged 14-25 and able to rehearse in Perth during 2023, are encouraged to apply.

Positions in each of the three big bands are auditioned every year, offering the opportunity to perform at some of Perth’s best venues, work with top band leaders and touring guest artists, plus travel regionally, nationally and internationally. WAYJO also annually commissions original big band works, trains band leaders, and runs pathway educational programs.

A total of fifty-four places are available within three big bands – the MinterEllison Monday, St John of God Health Care Tuesday, and WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestras. All three 18-piece bands each audition for Saxophones (2x Alto, 2x Tenor & 1x Baritone), 4x Trumpets, Trombones (3x Tenor & 1x Bass), 1x Guitar, 1x Bass, 1x Piano, 1x Drum Kit, plus 1x Vocalist.

Running the first two weekends in December, auditions are allocated on a first come first served basis. Aspiring band members are encouraged to register early, as places sold out in previous years.

Auditions and band rehearsals are held at WAYJO’s rehearsal studio in the historic Maylands Hall, located corner Eighth Avenue and Guildford Road. Musicians who cannot attend the December dates can apply through video audition.

At the forefront of forging professional, contemporary big band, ensemble and solo jazz artists since 1983, WAYJO’s impressive alumni includes international jazz luminaries Linda May Han Oh, Dane Alderson, Troy Roberts and Mat Jodrell.

WAYJO celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023 by continuing to build the future of Australian jazz through outstanding emerging jazz performer, composer and band leader opportunities.

Registrations for 2023 WAYJO Band Auditions close 5.00pm, Friday 18 November only if not filled prior. Visit wayjo.com/audition for all requirements and registration link, but don’t delay if you want to come and play!


WAYJO 2022 Brubeck Scholarship

WAYJO 2022 Brubeck Jazz Summit Scholarship

The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) are proud to announce Wednesday Night Orchestra members Cass Evans-Ocharern (bass) and Bob Tweedie (keyboard) were selected as this year’s recipients of the 2022 Brubeck Jazz Summit Scholarship. Joined by musical chaperone and WAYJO board member Kate Pass, they travelled to Sierra Nevada University, North Lake Tahoe July 10 to 16 for the annual United States jazz performance intensive.

“We had an amazing week at the Brubeck Jazz Summit in beautiful Lake Tahoe. It was an invaluable experience getting to hang out with and learn from some of the best jazz musicians in the world right now” comments Kate. “It was wonderful to see Cass and Bob thrive within the cohort, bringing a mature musical outlook, ensemble skills and etiquette, and of course a sense of humour!”

Cass says “The Brubeck Jazz Summit was an absolutely incredible experience. It was surreal to fly across the world because of Jazz. We had the amazing opportunity to work under some of the best Jazz musicians in the world, such as Chad LB, Connie Han, Rodney Whitaker, Sean Jones, Gilad Hekselman, and Eric Harland. We were able to work with each faculty member in ensembles, learn from their Masterclasses and also watched them perform with Dave Brubeck's son's, Chris and Dan Brubeck.”

“We also had the absolute pleasure of meeting other like-minded, young Jazz musicians from not only all over America, but also the UK! It was so lovely to make new friends from such different backgrounds and I am looking forward to seeing where each student goes in their career.”

"I am so fortunate to have had such an incredible opportunity because of WAYJO and Classical Tahoe. It was an absolutely amazing learning experience and I am so thankful to have gone.”

Brubeck Jazz Summit is a one-week intensive jazz performance training program offered to thirty selected students from throughout the world. It offers the unparalleled opportunity to workshop with Brubeck Institute faculty, guest artists and master teachers as the living legacy of the musician and international statesman, Dave Brubeck.

The Brubeck Jazz Summit accepts annual online applications from highly motivated students. More information about the program is online at davebrubeck.com/brubeck-living-legacy

 

WAYJO 2022 Brubeck Scholarship
Kate Pass (Ctr. R), with Brubeck Artistic Director Chad Lefkowitz-Brown (pic. Ctr. L), and WAYJO members Cass Evans-Ocharern (R) & Bob Tweedie (L). Photo by Connor Moen.

Hashtags: #WAYJO2022 #BrubeckJazzSummit

Contact:

Justine Thornley WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950


2022 WAYJO Pathways Education Semester Two

WAYJO’s Act Belong Commit Pathways Program offers a chance to explore jazz music, or learn more about auditioning for the band. There are two audition-free, inclusive workshops available in semester two for aspiring young musicians are now open for registrations;

  • WAYJO Northern Corridor (NC) is a training orchestra for high school students wishing to extend themselves through learning how to read and play various styles of music. It is held Tuesday evenings at St Stephens in Duncraig with a performance in their theatre in September.
    Semester 2 registrations open 9.00am Monday 27th June, and close Thursday 21st July, 2022.
  • WAYJO Club is an exciting opportunity 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. WAYJO Club is open to all young musicians with a basic understanding of music.
    Semester 2 registrations open Tuesday 28th June, and close 5.00pm Tuesday 26th July, 2022.

Head to wayjo.com/education for more information and registration details.

WAYJO’s Pathways Education Program is supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message, and our Major Partner Minderoo Foundation.

 

Photograph by Adrian Hicks.


2022 WAYJO Composer in Residence Thomas Voss & Associate Bob Tweedie

2022 WAYJO Composer Residencies Announced

Now entering its fifteenth year, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) Composer in Residence program is proud to announce its recipients for 2022.

Congratulations 24-year-old Composer in Residence Thomas Voss (SA), and 21-year-old Associate Composer Bob Tweedie (WA).

“We were again pleasantly surprised at the quality of applications this year for the 2022 Composer in Residence” states WAYJO Artistic Director, Dr Mace Francis. “Thomas showed us exceptional big band craft and mature writing. Bob showed us interesting and exciting compositional ideas that I am excited to see transferred to big band format. This is an exciting year for this project and I am looking forward to hearing and seeing the results.”

Thomas Voss is an Adelaide-based trombonist and composer/arranger who performs with and writes for a variety of local ensembles, including his own septet and big band. Thomas was selected as the lead trombonist for the 2021 and 2022 Australian National Jazz Orchestra Youth Big Bands, has performed in Adelaide’s 2019 International Jazz Day concert, and was the JazzSA Superbands 2019 Composer in Residence, also serving as the program’s coordinator since 2021. Thomas also won the 2017 Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition, and was a finalist in the 2017 James Morrison Scholarship.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the 2022 WAYJO Composer-in-Residence, and very excited to have the opportunity to work with a program that has helped to train and advance so many fine musicians” says Thomas.

Bob Tweedie (WAYJO Member 2018-2022) is an enthusiastic young piano player who loves to play many kinds of music, but especially jazz. He is a graduating student of the WAAPA jazz course (Hons), teaches both privately and part-time at Santa Maria College, and keyboardist in WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO). Currently dabbling in synthesisers and electronics, Bob plays with local bands such as Ken Paolo and the Space Cadets, and Residents’ Club. Some notable performances include being featured at the 2021 Perth International Jazz Festival with Sam Forster, as well as alongside some of Perth’s best pianists at the Ellington Jazz Club’s Solo Piano Showcase.

“It’s a privilege to be able to work with WAYJO, an organisation that provides such high-quality opportunities to developing musicians. WAYJO has been one of the core pillars in Perth jazz community for many decades, and acted as a transition for amateur musicians to become professional gigging musicians” states Bob.

The WNO will record these exciting new works July at Loop Studios in West Perth. Applications for the WAYJO’s 2023 composer in residence program will open early next year. For more information, visit wayjo.com/composer-in-residence

Hashtags: #WAYJO2022 #WAYJOcir

2022 WAYJO Composer in Residence Thomas Voss & Associate Bob Tweedie
2022 WAYJO Composer in Residence Thomas Voss (pictured left), and Associate Composer Bob Tweedie (pictured right).

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


2022 WAYJO Pathways Education and Composer in Residence Programs Open

WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) returns for 2022 with four fantastic opportunities for young West Australian musicians.

WAYJO’s Act Belong Commit Pathways Program offers a chance to explore jazz music, or learn more about auditioning for the band. Three audition-free, inclusive workshops for aspiring young musicians are now open for registrations;

  • WAYJO Northern Corridor (NC) is a training orchestra for high school students wishing to extend themselves through learning how to read and play various styles of music. It is held Tuesday evenings at St Stephens in Duncraig with a performance in their theatre in September. Registrations for Semester One close Monday 7 February, 9.00am.
  • WAYJO Club is an exciting opportunity 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. WAYJO Club is open to all young musicians with a basic understanding of music. It runs semester one and two, with a discount offered for participation both semesters. Registrations close Tuesday 22 February, 5.00pm.
  • Young Women in Jazz is an 8-week workshop program open to female identifying instrumentalists aged 14-25 who have an interest in exploring jazz and improvised music in a like-minded, judgement-free space. Registrations close Monday 11 April, 5.00pm.

WAYJO’s Pathways Education Program is supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message, and our Major Partner Minderoo Foundation. Head to wayjo.com/education for more information and registration details.

WAYJO's Composer in Residence Program is also open for applications, supporting two emerging composers to develop new works for a large jazz ensemble with generous commission fees, artistic mentorship, and professional recordings of the new works. Applications for both positions close Tuesday 1 March, 5.00pm;

  • Composer in Residence is open to any composer aged 30 years or younger (as at 1st January 2022), residing in Australia, offering $2,000 for two original big band works.
  • Associate Composer in Residence is open to any jazz composer aged 21 years or younger (as at 1st January 2022), residing in Western Australia, offering $1,200 for two original big band works.

Head to wayjo.com/get-involved/composer-in-residence for more information and to apply.

With so many opportunities on offer for young musicians, WAYJO's 2022 season promises to offer something for both jazz aficionados and those new to the genre. Stay tuned to wayjo.com for more details soon, as the season program launches Sunday 20 March at Lyric Lane in Maylands.

 

WAYJO thanks continuing Government Partner, the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries, Lotterywest, Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation, MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra Naming Rights Partner, St John of God Healthcare Tuesday Night Orchestra Naming Rights Partner, and Healthway Act Belong Commit.

 

Photograph by Adrian Hicks.


Chris Musitano - 2021 WAYJO AMD

2022 WAYJO Assistant Music Director Applications Open

Proudly supported by the Simon Lee Foundation, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) Assistant Music Director program offers a 12-month paid mentoring traineeship for a young and emerging musical director.

The program offers the opportunity to develop skills in conducting a large orchestral band, programming repertoire for an 18-piece big band, and developing the leadership skills required to inspire and enhance the skills and experience of band members.

Experienced, music reading musicians aged 18 to 35 years during 2022 are invited to apply for this position, which runs January to December at the WAYJO studio in Maylands, Western Australia.

Applications for 2022 WAYJO Assistant Musical Director open 9.00am, Monday 4 October, and have now been extended until 5.00pm Wednesday 1 December, 2021.

Head to wayjo.com/get-involved/assistant-musical-director for details and the application form – it is free to apply for this opportunity.

“My time in the role of Assistant Music Director at WAYJO has definitely given me a different perspective (both literally and figuratively) of playing with a large ensemble, and all the insights, tips and tricks, and knowledge gained from the other musical directors and musicians are things that I have already started applying in my own musical career. As a direct result of this position, I can see the idea of becoming a bandleader in some capacity more of an attainable goal.”
Christopher Musitano – 2020-21 WAYJO Assistant Musical Director

 

Photograph 2021 WAYJO Season Launch by Josh Wells.


WAYJO NC - A New Training Band in Perth's Northern Suburbs

REGISTRATIONS FOR WAYJO NC TERM 3 ARE NOW FULL, WAITLIST OPEN VIA EMAIL.

Thank you for your interest in the brand new WAYJO NC training band with the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra. Uptake of this program has exceeded our expectations and unfortunately registrations for Term 3 are now full.

If you are interested in going on the waitlist please email admin@wayjo.com
and be sure to signup to WAYJO enews to stay informed!

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