Four directors appointed to give National Youth Jazz Orchestra fresh new look
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) has appointed four new Resident Musical Directors (MDs) as part of a new approach to deliver its artistic vision.
The move marks a significant departure from the previous single Head of Music model, to a more collaborative structure which aims to enhance the creative experiences for young musicians.
Located within Woolwich Works in Royal Arsenal, NYJO is a registered charity and Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, dedicated to bringing jazz and improvised music to young musicians aged between 14 and 25.
With a mission to develop young jazz talent, NYJO offers high-quality, accessible, and inclusive learning programmes and hosts professional live performances.
The newly appointed Resident MDs will work closely with NYJO’s Head of Programmes, Vikki Maudave to shape the future of NYJO’s artistic programming.
Each MD will bring their unique expertise to different aspects of NYJO’s musical and educational offerings, from professional development to repertoire selection.
Joining the team will be Winston Clifford, one of Britain’s leading jazz drummers, who has been running the NYJO Under 18s Ensemble since 2021.
Mr Clifford will be working alongside Wayne Francis, known as Ahnansé, a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the southeast London jazz collective Steam Down.
Instrumental in the local jazz renaissance, Mr Francis has worked with NYJO since February when he led a project for young musicians to compose original works.
The final two new directors joining NYJO will be former NYJO young composer-in-residence Olivia Murphy and Vij Prakash, a trombonist, composer and educator who holds a residency at Ronnie Scott’s.
Vikki Maudave, NYJO’s Head of Programmes said: “We are incredibly proud to be working with Winston, Ahnansé, Olivia, and Vij in leading NYJO into the future of jazz. Their diverse skills and experiences will be instrumental in driving our new artistic vision forward.
“This collaborative approach will not only enhance our programming but also ensure that we continue to inspire and nurture the next generation of jazz musicians.”
As part of its ongoing efforts to engage and inspire young musicians, NYJO has been participating in the EFG London Jazz Festival this month with exciting performances from young musicians and unique fusions of Afrofuturism, Jungle/Drum & Bass, and Electronica.
For more information, visit https://nyjo.org.uk/
Pictured top: Wayne Francis, known as Ahnansé, a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the southeast London jazz collective Steam Down who is joining the NYJO team as a new MD (Picture: Courtesy of NYJO)