London,
08
May
2017
|
11:13
Europe/London

Nurturing the next generation of jazz stars

Young musicians are learning and performing with jazz masters in a project which is nurturing the next generation of music stars.

The aim of the 18-month programme, funded by Arts Council England, is to encourage aspiring jazzers, especially young women.

The project, called Jazz Connect, is holding free workshops in Camden for local young players and singers on:

  • Sunday 14 May, 11am to 2pm at the Roundhouse with Nerija, who were nominated for the Jazz FM Breakthrough Act of the Year in 2016. Book here
  • Saturday 17 June, 1pm to 3pm at Young Music Makers, La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School, Croftdown Road NW5 1HE. Singing workshop with acclaimed jazz vocalist and educator Peter Churchill. Email [email protected] to book
  • Sunday 18 June, 12 noon to 3pm at WAC Arts, Old Town Hall, 213 Haverstock Hill NW3 4QP with members of London-based jazz group Loop Collective. Email [email protected] to book.

The free workshops will be followed by an open air Jazz Picnic, celebrating young people and jazz in Camden, in the grounds of Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, at 3pm on Sunday 2 July.

The free concert, which will be the first Jazz Connect live showcase, will feature groups from the Camden Saturday Music Centre, directed by Jazz FM Instrumentalist of the Year 2017 Nikki Yeoh, as well as young musicians from the Jazz Connect workshops and other local groups, including Young Music Makers and North London Music Academy.

Jazz Connect brings together all the members of the borough’s partnership body, called Camden Music Hub, which includes the Council’s highly-regarded Camden Music Service, North London Music Academy, The Roundhouse, WAC Arts, Young Music Makers and local schools.

The project was officially launched by Camden Youth Jazz Band, the borough’s award-winning big band, and the New Camden Jazz Ensemble who played alongside other Camden youth groups at St Luke’s Church, in east London, on 2 April.

There is a wealth of talented young musicians who live or go to school and college in the borough, several of whom have already gone on to become world famous. Former members of the Camden Youth Jazz Band include trumpeter Mark Crown, of English drum and bass act Rudimental, who are previous Brit Award and Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Award winners, as well as multiple platinum award winners for sales of their music in several countries.

Jazz Connect will help nurture the next generation of world-leading musicians and singers.

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