You could even say that the 300 past and present members of Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO) have done more for the borough’s reputation than any of our more famous musical ambassadors.
Fresh from the orchestra’s success at this year’s jazz festival, musical director Ian Darrington told Borough Life he believed the band has achieved as much as any youth orchestra in the world.
Dozens of former members have gone on to find national and even international fame (celebrated bandleader Andy Prior and Alistair White, now playing on tour with Blur, being just two examples) while winning more than 30 individual and band awards tells its own story.
Ian said: “Wigan is recognised as a great place for music – and not just jazz. We have the brass, swing and classical bands. Music is a fantastic confidence booster. It’s so important in everyone’s life and to see how it influences young people is really exciting.
“It gives us a lot of pride to see how the young members have developed. I really do think WYJO has played a part in the regeneration of the UK music scene. Young people going through our music service have helped to revitalise the music industry.”
In its time the orchestra has worked with many of the world’s top musicians including Georgie Fame, Maynard Ferguson and Marion Montgomery.
The story began in the mid 1970s when Gordon Dodd, a far sighted music educator working for the council, saw there was a need to challenge pupils through ensemble playing. A year later Ian Darrington arrived as trumpet teacher for the music service.
“In a sense it wasn’t planned, it just evolved”, says Ian. “The support of the council over the years has been crucial. Without the success of WYJO I doubt we’d have a world renowned international jazz festival today.
“The orchestra has taken the name of Wigan across the world and in some places it is much better known for music than rugby or football!” Ian joked. “The touring is a complete education on the road, meeting people from other cultures, different cuisines, religions. But it’s hard work – this is no easy ride and we demand the highest standards.”
Ian admits that finding a constant supply of young musicians to replenish the pool of talent is not easy. This year no fewer than 12 of the band’s 20 members are moving on for various reasons, usually to go into higher education. But the other musical ensembles act as a seedbed for new recruits.
“We’re constantly having to reshape and reform but there’s a good crop of players coming through the other bands. We can see the potential in children at primary school and we keep an eye on them as they progress through school.”
Alto sax player Emily Green, 16, is proof of this nurturing approach. She says: “I’ve been playing since I was eight, starting with music lessons though the music service at school. Since then I’ve moved through their ensembles, including the swing band and the big band.
“The music service has done a lot for me and it’s all been a really great experience.”
While most members of WYJO are discovered through schools, if any parent or young person is interested they can come to a rehearsal on Monday evening at Hawkley Hall high school and bring their instrument with them.
And if you think that’s an unlikely route to stardom, just remember this – David Tench was discovered by that very same route. And the former Leigh College student and WYJO member went on to become vocal coach for boy band Westlife before playing piano with Natasha Bedingfield and Take That.
Blowing their own trumpet
Of course music in Wigan is about much more than jazz. And the council’s instrumental teaching service, which serves 3500 pupils in the borough, has really struck a chord with music service inspectors.
Following a tough inspection carried out to Ofsted standards, the Federation of Music Services reported that Wigan borough’s thirty separate ensembles perform at a high level locally, nationally and internationally, with highly respected and enthusiastic leaders.
Further proof of the borough’s musical fame came recently when the Wigan Youth Brass Band, pictured above, won a top prize at the National Festival of Music for Youth at one of Europe’s most prestigious orchestral venues, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. The 38 members of the ensemble are all from Wigan borough schools and are mainly taught directly by the council’s instrumental teaching service.
Dave Little, their musical director and head of the service, said: “The real reward is for the young musicians to experience playing in an amazing venue like Symphony Hall. And coming away with the top prize is an excellent finale to what has been another superb year for this great young band.”
The council’s cabinet champion for young people, Cllr Susan Loudon, said: “There’s been a crescendo of success for local musicians this year. It’s hard to overstate the importance of their contribution to our local cultural scene and how they represent our borough around the country and beyond is something we should all be proud of.”
On stage in Birmingham, the band played two spectacular brass standards as part of their set, to win the ‘Ev-entz’ award for brass band performance.
Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra has just released a stunning Best Of, featuring 34 tracks from 25 years of recordings. It’s on sale by mail order for £13.50 (inc. p&p) from: Gordon Humphries, 19 Cleveleys Road, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 2SR (tel 01925 727408). For more information email Ian Darrington
For more information about the orchestra see Wigan Jazz Club (external link)
Routes to fame
Former WYJO members who have gone on to great things include:
Leigh born Andy Prior made his singing debut with WYJO at the age of 16. He became the first bandleader to front his own television series in over thirty years.
Young jazz musician of the year in 1997, trombonist Alistair White, pictured right, played in Blur’s brass section during their recent headlining set at Glastonbury.
Former Standish High pupil Georgina Bromilow is now widely regarded as Britain’s finest female lead trumpet player. She appeared with the acclaimed all female ensemble Broad Band at this year’s jazz festival.
Pianist David Tench – a Leigh College student who went on to play keyboards for Natasha Bedingfield and Take That.
Joshua Hales, of Shevington High then Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, is now regarded as one of the UK’s leading young church organists. He’s currently organ scholar at Truro Cathedral.
Trumpeter Jonathan Murray of Golborne High is one of the few UK students ever to win a scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music.
Ashley Frohlick, musical director of Blackpool’s Empress Orchestra – regarded as the finest orchestra in the world for ballroom dancing.
