Also known as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, NYJO is an organisation dedicated to making jazz and creative music-making more accessible to early-career musicians, young people, and audiences across the country. Throughout our activity, we seek to create a meeting ground between the established and the experimental – the past, present, and future – to build bespoke programmes which cater to lifelong and new jazz fans.
Our main focus is the professional development of emerging artists and our Learning programme for under 18s. We work in close collaboration with likeminded partners to deliver projects that respond to local community needs and create an inclusive learning environment which centres the voices of young people.
We are proud to be an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and to work towards delivering ACE’s ‘Let’s Create’ strategy to make the arts sector more inclusive and reflective of modern Britain.
Emerging Professionals
We curate exciting performance projects for audiences and emerging professional musicians aged 18-25, underpinned by a programme of Professional Development.
NYJO & Tommy Blaize: Ray Charles
A 19-piece NYJO band is joined on tour by Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize to perform the unforgettable songs of one of Ray Charles.
NYJO Presents: Dizzy Gillespie
In this programme, NYJO’s Head of Music, Mark Armstrong, leads a NYJO sextet in celebration of the joyous, ever-green music of one of Jazz’s great iconoclasts.
NYJO & Tony Kofi: Monk at Town Hall
UK Jazz legend Tony Kofi leads a dectet of emerging jazz talent through one of the most seminal live recordings of all time: The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall.
NYJO Learning
We create accessible learning activities for all, providing young people with impactful tools for personal growth through creative music-making.
NYJO Learning: London
Based in Woolwich, NYJO Learning’s work in London includes our Saturday Under 18s programme, Holiday Projects, and Community Outreach.
NYJO Learning: National
Our national programme is based around Widening Access partnerships that respond to our partners’ work and their communities’ needs.
NYJO Under 18s manifesto
Recorded in celebration of International Jazz Day: NYJO Under 18s’ MD Winston Clifford and two of our young musicians discuss their experience in our Saturday programme.
Community outreach
We are passionate about responding to and representing our communities, both locally and nationally, in physical and digital spaces.
NYJO Jazz Messengers
In July 2022, NYJO embarked on a Greenwich Jazz Messengers Schools’ Tour. Through this tour, we aimed to inspire young people to take up an instrument and encourage them to get involved in extra-curricular music-making.
Working in Partnership
Partner working is at the heart of NYJO Learning’s programmes. It is a privilege to share knowledge and experiences with other organisations and to explore ways of supporting one another.
Sherard Road Songbirds
We are partnering with Age UK Greenwich on our community singing group, Sherard Road Songbirds! The choir will allow adults within our community to make friends and find a sense of belonging through music.
NYJO Stories
Our work is best described by those who benefit from it. Read the stories of NYJO musicians, students, staff, and educators.
Lucy-Anne Daniels
A natural performer, creative improviser and talented musician, Leeds native Lucy-Anne Daniels draws inspiration from singers such as Betty Carter, gospel duo Mary Mary and, most pertinently, Amy Winehouse.
Emma Rawicz
Growing up in rural North Devon, Emma didn’t discover jazz until the age of 15, and didn’t pick up a tenor saxophone until a year later, but had spent her childhood otherwise immersed in largely folk and classical music.
Dan Coulthurst
After initially pursuing a keen interest in classical music, Dan found his true passion in Jazz – particularly Big Band. As a member of NYJO, Dan has been able to explore his love for Jazz, playing in venues around the country.
Our team
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Join our passionate community of Friends, grant-making organisations or corporate sponsors at a level that suits you and share your love of jazz with the next generation.