York Music Forum wins the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival

York Music Forum (YMF) has competed in the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival in the past, but this time it appeared in matching arrangements, with the youth jazz ensemble winning four awards for Jonara Laurinson's Best Band and Best Soloist on the trumpet, and the pianist William Ward Jackson and Dominic Tory's Assistants Award.

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York Music Forum (YMF) competed in the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (Photo: Supplied) Music director Ian Chalk said: “The long-term goals of the members of the forum are to develop a lifelong love of making music through confidence, knowledge, gaps, unity and achievements. There is something unique about being part of a musical ensemble.

“We believe these skills will prove that no matter what the instruments are or what their futures hold, they are invaluable in later life for each member of the group.”

The arbitrary awards were sent to pianists William Ward Jackson and Dominic Torrey (Image: Supplied). The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival is a major event in the jazz community and provides the ideal platform for jazz musicians to show off their talent and compete with the best artists in the region. The festival's big band competition is established, highly successful, captivates numerous bands and jazz enthusiasts, offering young musicians the opportunity to measure their abilities against their Northern peers.

The festival also serves as a valuable platform for emerging musicians to gain exposure and experience.

Over the years, YMF has developed so many young talents and by going to college, their hard work and dedication have broken the ceiling of all expectations as they move from strength to strength.

Their Youth Jazz Ensemble had the honor of performing with the honorable music of Youth Prom at Royal Albert Hall. Additionally, the York Music Forum was finalized for the key Jazz Education Award at the Congressional Jazz Awards 2024. Also last year, the Youth Jazz Ensemble recorded several tracks with world-renowned jazz vocalist Claire Martin Obe.

The Brass and Saxophone section were some of York's largest community fundraiser house bands.

The York Music Forum is a dynamic community dedicated to cultivating and developing jazz musicians of all ages and skill levels, offering a variety of activities to help musicians build confidence, expand their musical knowledge and experience the joy of making music together.

They offer both young and adult ensemble sessions.

Additionally, they host public concerts and offer a variety of online resources and workshops to support their members.

If you want to develop your musical skills or dust your saxophone from the attic and rekindle your love of playing the instruments left behind in your childhood, contact Ian Chalk via YorkMusicForum.com

Celebrating winners (Photo: Supplied)