Best of 2025 Concert
WA Youth Jazz Orchestra Presents: Best of 2025 Concert
Final concert of the year!
Join us for an unmissable night of jazz under the stars at The Quarry Amphitheatre as the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra brings the season to a spectacular close. Featuring all three of our big bands – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Night Orchestras – this annual concert is a must-see event on the jazz calendar.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Bold Park Reserve, WAYJO showcases the standout moments from the year’s performances, from swinging big band classics to contemporary jazz arrangements. After a year of hard work, these bands are at their peak, delivering a night of energy, passion, and world-class musicianship.
Bring a picnic, grab a spot in the amphitheatre, and soak up the sounds of WA’s next generation of jazz talent. The Limestone Café will be open on the night, and pre-ordered picnic hampers are available.
Tickets are general admission – arrive early to secure your spot!
Best of 2025 Concert
Gates open 6:30pm | Concert from 7:30pm – 10pm
Saturday 22 November 2025
Quarry Amphitheatre, 1 Waldron Dr, City Beach
BOOK TICKETS
Items you can bring to The Quarry
• Low concert/beach chairs (no wider than 52cm including armrests)
• Blankets/cushions
• Small esky
• Picnic, including wine and beer (no spirits or spike-style wine glass holders)
• Insect repellent (no mosquito coils/sticks)
• Rain poncho (no umbrellas)
WAYJO thanks its valued partners: Government Partner Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries; Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation, Wright Burt Foundation, Bendat Family Foundation, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and Simon Lee Foundation.
WNO with special guest Emily Gelineau
WA Youth Jazz Orchestra: Wednesday Night Orchestra with special guest violinist Emily Gelineau
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Wednesday Night Orchestra takes centre stage at the Como Theatre, joined by acclaimed violinist, composer, and arranger Emily Gelineau for a special performance in an intimate theatre setting.
With its rich acoustics and atmospheric charm, Como Theatre provides the perfect backdrop for this unique collaboration, blending jazz with the expressive power of the violin—an instrument we don’t see that often in a big band setting.
Emily Gelineau is an internationally recognised violinist and Berklee College of Music graduate. A Grammy Award-winning musician, Emily’s unique approach to jazz violin blends influences from across genres and cultures, making for an unforgettable evening of live music. From classic big band repertoire to original compositions and daring improvisation, this will be a performance that redefines what a jazz orchestra can do.
As one of WAYJO’s flagship ensembles, WNO brings together some of the state’s most exciting young jazz musicians, many of whom are already making their mark on Perth’s music scene. Having performed alongside international jazz greats like Chloe Rowlands (USA) and Linda May Han Oh (USA/AUS), this orchestra is known as one of the country’s top youth jazz orchestra’s led by WAYJO’s Artistic Director, Gemma Farrell.
Wednesday Night Orchestra with special guest Emily Gelineau
Doors: 7PM | Show: 7:30-9:30PM
Friday 27 June 2025
Como Theatre
TICKETS
Program announced for 2025!
It’s an exciting new chapter in WAYJO’s story, as we launch the 2025 season under the leadership of our new Artistic Director, saxophonist, composer, and educator Gemma Farrell.
This season, we’re putting the spotlight on local guest artists, showcasing some of the most incredible talent right here in WA. Throughout the year, our Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Night Orchestras will collaborate with an incredible lineup of special guests, perform in a variety of venues, and tour both locally and internationally.
One of the highlights will be our Wednesday Night Orchestra show at the newly restored Como Theatre, featuring violinist Emily Gelineau. This concert is extra special as it celebrates the reopening of the historic Como Theatre, which dates back to the 1930s and has been closed for renovation since 2021. It’s a stunning venue, and we can’t wait to fill it with music.
At The Rechabite, audiences can look forward to two concerts: the return of Havana Nights! – a popular Latin Showcase with powerhouse percussionists Steve Richter and Marcus Perrozzi alongside vocalist Adolfo Chavez, and our annual Vocal Showcase featuring Victoria Newton and all three of WAYJO’s talented vocalists.
Over at The Ellington Jazz Club, the Monday Night Orchestra will share the stage with guitarist Ray Walker, one of last year’s recipients of the WA State Cultural Treasures Award. Ray is a legend in the WA jazz scene, and we’re honoured to have him perform with us.
Beyond these performances, some of our musicians will be heading out on the road. A group of WAYJO band members will be travelling to Narrogin Senior High School to run workshops with students, alongside Noongar/Jingili rapper ZERO Emcee. And in October, six of our band members will be traveling to Tokyo for an exciting exchange program with Showa University. Together with six Showa University students, they’ll form a combined band called SHOWAYJO, co-directed by Gemma Farrell and Showa’s Masa Ikeda. It’s a truly special experience, and we can’t wait to see this cross-cultural collaboration come to life.
Education is at the heart of what we do. In Term 3, we continue our award-nominated Progressions program for young musicians of marginalised genders, ending with a showcase performance at The Ellington. Our Northern Corridor Training Band returns to The Ellington in June, and both programs will feature in our Pathways Jam at Lyric Lane Courtyard in September—a chance for these young musicians to jam and connect with each other.
WAYJO is a not-for-profit organisation, and we rely on the generosity of our community to keep our programs running. If you’d like to support our ongoing work, consider joining the 240 Club by donating $20 per month or $240 annually. Your support helps us run our concerts, education programs, and community initiatives.
Looking ahead, Gemma Farrell shares her vision: “Jazz, for me, is about inclusion, diversity, and accessibility. My vision is to increase diversity within our bands and create more initiatives that make jazz accessible to marginalised communities. Programs like Progressions are already making an impact, and I’m excited to grow that work further. I believe jazz should be for everyone, and I’m committed to building more opportunities, more access, and a more inclusive jazz community.”
Thanks for your continued support, and we can’t wait to share this incredible season with you.
FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO, CLICK HERE
2025 Season Celebration
WA Youth Jazz Orchestra: 2025 Season Celebration – a free event in Hyde Park
Bring your friends and family and celebrate the start of another incredible year with Australia’s premier youth jazz orchestra.
Join us for a laid-back Sunday afternoon of live jazz in Hyde Park. Our new Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Night Orchestras come together to launch the 2025 season, filling the park with the sounds of big band classics and contemporary jazz favourites.
We’ll introduce our new Artistic Director and some of the fantastic local guest artists joining us in 2025, and share a sneak peek at the performances and programs ahead.
This family-friendly, free event is the perfect excuse to bring a picnic, enjoy an ice cream or coffee from local vendors, and soak up some of WA’s finest young jazz talent. Whether you’re a longtime WAYJO supporter or just love live music, you’re in for the perfect Sunday Session!
2025 Season Celebration
3-5pm
Sunday 23 March 2025
Hyde Park, Perth
FREE EVENT
We thank our valued partners: Government Partner Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries; Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation, St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra Naming Rights Partner, Wright Burt Foundation, Bendat Family Foundation, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and Simon Lee Foundation.
From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop at Coogee Live
From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop feat. Zero Emcee & WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra
A free performance on the Community Hub Stage at Coogee Live.
Experience the dynamic fusion of jazz and hip-hop as Noongar/Jingili rapper Zero Emcee joins WAYJO’s 18-piece Wednesday Night Orchestra for a free performance at Coogee Live. Fresh from an extensive regional tour across WA, this collaboration delivers phat beats, bold brass and infectious grooves.
Since 2022 these performances have been captivating audiences of all ages, fostering a sense of inclusion, connection and community. Zero Emcee’s meticulously crafted lyrics are reimagined through the innovative arrangements of Mace Francis.
Rooted in Noongar and Jingili cultures, Zero’s powerful raps carry a deep connection to his heritage, resonating with pride and authenticity. Get ready to move as his compelling stories are amplified by the powerhouse sounds of WAYJO’s 18-piece big band.
This event is presented by the City of Cockburn.
From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop feat. Zero Emcee & WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra
Time: 8-9pm
Date: Saturday 8 March 2025
Venue: Coogee Beach Reserve, Coogee Beach & Omeo Park, Coogee
FREE ENTRY
Gemma Farrell Appointed Artistic Director of WAYJO
We are delighted to announce the appointment of jazz saxophonist, composer, educator, Gemma Farrell as Artistic Director. Gemma holds a Master of Music degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, a Bachelor of Music with Honours from the Queensland Conservatorium and is currently a PhD candidate and lecturer in jazz studies at WAAPA. Gemma was a member of the WAYJO Band from 2003 to 2007 and has been a staff member for more than a decade, leading the WAYJO Pathways Program, Progressions, (formerly known as Young Women in Jazz) since 2014.
Progressions is an initiative encouraging young people of marginalised genders, female, non-binary and transgender who are underrepresented on jazz stages build support networks, refine their skills, and increase confidence. The program was nominated for the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education in both 2023 and 2024. Her contributions to the field were recognised when she received the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for WA State Luminary in 2024 and the Australian Women in Music Award for Humanitarian 2024.
In July 2022, Gemma was featured as a guest artist with our Monday Night Orchestra, where she highlighted the versatility of the saxophone family, the EWI, and her original compositions. In 2024, she conducted the Wednesday Night Orchestra at the State Theatre Centre, collaborating with Grammy-winning bassist Linda May Han Oh.
WAYJO Chair Simon Durack said, “On behalf of my fellow Board members, we are delighted to welcome Gemma Farrell to the position of Artistic Director for WAYJO and look forward to her ongoing input into the future artistic direction of WAYJO.”
Gemma said, “I’m extremely honoured to have been appointed as the next Artistic Director of WAYJO. I never imagined that as a young musician in WAYJO that I would be the AD one day. I look forward to working with the dedicated WAYJO staff and Board towards a more diverse Perth Jazz scene and I’m especially excited to work with such incredible up and coming talent in our WAYJO musicians”.
From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop at Perth Festival
From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop feat. Zero Emcee & WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra
A free performance at Casa Musica at the East Perth Power Station as part of Perth Festival.
Experience the dynamic fusion of jazz and hip-hop as Noongar/Jingili rapper Zero Emcee joins WAYJO’s 18-piece Wednesday Night Orchestra for a special Perth Festival performance. Fresh from an extensive regional tour across WA, this collaboration delivers phat beats, bold brass and infectious grooves.
Since 2022 these performances have been captivating audiences of all ages, fostering a sense of inclusion, connection and community. Zero Emcee’s meticulously crafted lyrics are reimagined through the innovative arrangements of Mace Francis.
Rooted in Noongar and Jingili cultures, Zero’s powerful raps carry a deep connection to his heritage, resonating with pride and authenticity. Get ready to move as his compelling stories are amplified by the powerhouse sounds of WAYJO’s 18-piece big band.
This event is presented by Perth Festival.
From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop feat. Zero Emcee & WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra
Time: Doors from 5pm
Date: Saturday 22 February 2025
Venue: East Perth Power Station
FREE ENTRY
Best of 2024
WA Youth Jazz Orchestra Presents: Best of 2024 Concert
Enjoy a jazzy night under the stars with the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) at their Best of 2024 concert at the Quarry Amphitheatre on Saturday, 23 November.
Featuring quality big band performances by the WAYJO Monday Night Orchestra, St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, and WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra, this event celebrates the culmination of a year’s hard work and touring.
Experience these bands at their peak as they showcase their favourite pieces in their final performance of the year.
Having sold out several years in a row, this event has become a local jazz tradition, delivering a diverse range of styles to delight every audience member.
The Quarry Amphitheatre, one of Perth’s premier outdoor venues, is nestled in the serene Bold Park Reserve, offering a stunning skyline view. Bring a picnic, choose from the Limestone Cafe menu on the night, or pre-order a picnic hamper.
Tickets are general admission, so arrive early to secure your favourite spot!
Best of 2024
Gates open 6:30pm | Concert from 7:30pm – 10pm
Saturday 23 November 2024
Quarry Amphitheatre, 1 Waldron Dr, City Beach
BOOK TICKETS
Items you can bring to The Quarry
• Low concert/beach chairs (no wider than 52cm including armrests)
• Blankets/cushions
• Small esky
• Picnic, including wine and beer (no spirits or spike-style wine glass holders)
• Insect repellent (no mosquito coils/sticks)
• Rain poncho (no umbrellas)
WAYJO extends its gratitude to our Government Partner the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries, Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Guest Artist Partner Minderoo Foundation, St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra Naming Rights, Wright Burt Foundation, Bendat Family Foundation, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Simone Lee Foundation, and all of our private donors, Seat Sponsors, and 240 Club Members for their continued support.
A jazzy night under the stars to wrap up 2024
It’s that time of year again! Celebrate the culmination of an incredible year with our Best of 2024 concert at the stunning Quarry Amphitheatre on Saturday, 23 November from 6:30pm.
Featuring all three of our core orchestras – this unmissable event highlights the energy, passion, and skill of our young musicians as they showcase their favourite pieces of the year.
The Monday Night Orchestra will captivate with music from standout collaborations, including Mariel Bildsten, Sarah McKenzie, and Zero Emcee. Expect swinging big band tunes, jazz ballads, and a jazz-hip-hop fusion with the tune, Na Na Na (Zero Emcee), as well as classics like Evil Man (Thad Jones), and Paris in the Rain (Sarah McKenzie).
Our St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra promises a dynamic and eclectic mix, from fiery “burner” Magic Flea to the lush Just Friends and Brazilian-inspired Yatra-Ta featuring Sofie Kerr. The set also includes Nutville (Buddy Rich) and I Love Paris (Stan Kenton).
And the Wednesday Night Orchestra will showcase stunning original works by our composers-in-residence (Infinity by Aaron Caldwell and Weird Cat by Jackson Mack) alongside gems like Woman’s Got Soul (Thad Jones), Kind Folk (Kenny Wheeler), and Photographs (Ed Partyka).
Bring a picnic, pre-order a hamper, or enjoy the Limestone Cafe menu while soaking in the vibrant sounds of big band jazz under the stars.
Date: Saturday, 23 November
Gates open: 6:30pm | Concert: 7:30pm – 10pm
Venue: Quarry Amphitheatre, City Beach
Get ready for a special night of extraordinary music that has become a much-loved local tradition. Book your tickets now!
Sara McDonald – NYChillharmonic (USA) with WAYJO's Wednesday Night Orchestra
Sara McDonald – NYChillharmonic (USA) with WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra
Members of our Wednesday Night Orchestra will perform at The Rechabite with Sara McDonald (USA) and her dynamic ensemble, NYChillharmonic.
Prepare to be transported to an aural realm where genres collide and your mind will be opened to all musical possibilities.
The NYChillharmonic is a Brooklyn-based, 18-piece progressive-jazz orchestra. The music fuses multiple genres including rock, pop, classical, and jazz while sonically embracing unconventional textures, arrangements and harmonies. The result is an ensemble sound like nothing you’ve ever heard before. The core band from New York is composed of bandleader/vocalist Sara McDonald, guitarist Shubh Saran, pianist Liya Grigoryan, bassist Almog Sharvit and drummer Angelo Spampinato. Perth-based musicians from WAYJO will round out the rest of the ensemble. Pack your expectations away and take a one-way ticket into the sonic stratosphere.
This event is presented by the Perth International Jazz Festival.
Sara McDonald – NYChillharmonic (USA) with WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra
Time: 9:45pm
Date: Saturday 2 November 2024
Venue: The Rechabite, Perth
BOOK TICKETS