My name is Beau. I play the drums. Before joining NYJO, I was unaware of the wonderful world of jazz and playing with other musicians.
Through my time here, my love and passion for music has only grown, thanks to the brilliant directors and mentors who have helped shape my progression with my instrument and musical journey, which continues to thrive here at Woolwich Works.
When I first joined NYJO around a year and a half ago, I did so with little real experience of playing with other young musicians. I’d been playing more traditional beginner rock kind of music in bands on the drums at school, which I enjoyed, but I always felt a desire to be exposed to other paths of music and other musical experiences. When I discovered NYJO through a school workshop, it was the perfect thing for me as a curious young musician. Immediately I joined the NYJO First Collective. This was the start of my journey in musicianship.
NYJO First Collective offers a session every Saturday from 12:00 – 13:30, focused on playing with other young musicians and improvising. It was designed for anyone, whether they had never played before, or had been playing for a year – people from all different backgrounds and all different experiences with jazz. It was a safe space for people to connect with each other through music. We would learn songs by ear, solo with each other and form a bond through music. The Collective was a perfect introduction to playing with other musicians and expanding my musical vocabulary. I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to the world of jazz by the amazing Emerging Professionals who ran the sessions and were always there to support me. In the past year and a half, having performed and recorded with First Collective, I’ve made good friends with other musicians my age and been welcomed into a space dedicated to supporting other musicians like me.
Recently in the past few months I have left the First Collective and joined the U18s Band, led by NYJO Resident MD Olivia Murphy. I have loved joining a new group and being exposed to the ‘next level’ of playing. Being pushed in a room of very skilled and talented young musicians, led by a very skilled and experienced director, is an experience that has been very rewarding in such a short amount of time. I’ve found myself practising more, playing more, and being more focused on my journey as a drummer. I even got to perform with them at NYJO’s annual showcase recently. I’ve loved every second of my time so far with this new group of amazing musicians and I can’t wait to keep learning, playing, and levelling up as a musician with them.
Overall, I’ve loved my experience as a young musician at NYJO. NYJO is the perfect organisation for any young musician with an interest and passion for music. Young people are nurtured and guided to be the best musicians they can be by amazing musicians and directors. I can’t wait to keep learning, and playing with the U18s and expanding my musical experience!
