Great North Big Band Jazz Festival

On Saturday 3rd March the Kirklees Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Shelley Music Centre Big Band travelled to Sunderland to take part in the 9th annual Great North Big Band Jazz Festival.  The festival is hosted by Sunderland University, directed by jazz trumpeter Bill Watson, and adjudicated by Mick Donnelly and Paul Jones of the BBC Big Band.  The groups competed in the youth section and the Kirklees Youth Jazz Orchestra was awarded the prize for the most entertaining performance, the overall winners being Paraffernalia from Gateshead.  It was a great opportunity for the youngsters to perform to an appreciative audience and to hear some truly inspiring performances from the other jazz ensembles.  Both Kirklees groups received very positive and encouraging feedback from the festival adjudicators and all the participants had a very enjoyable and memorable experience.