Lauren Derwent

Lauren is a prolific song writer, vocalist, pianist and percussionist.

Lauren held the vocal and percussion chair with NYJO from 2003-2005, and in 2009 she signed an exclusive song writer’s agreement with Toolroom Publishing. Her compositions are catchy and thought provoking, and her lyrics address character development, morals, and raise social issues.

Mark Armstrong

Newly appointed as the Musical Director for NYJO in April 2010 having taken the rehearsals and written for the band for about ten years, and before that being a member of the trumpet section I believe that makes me the second longest serving NYJO1 person after Bill Ashton.

Paul Hart

Paul Hart, born 1954, is a music composer. He spent his early life in Ilford, Essex. He studied Piano, Violin and composition at the Royal College of Music, first as a junior exhibitor and later full-time. Having developed an early interest in Jazz music he left college in 1973 and started working as a bass player, piano accompanist and jazz violinist to Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, an association which was to last into the early eighties and take him around the globe many times. He was also much in demand as a session musician.

During this period he met Joe Campbell, and in 1979 the pair formed ‘Joe & Co’ a company specialising in composing and producing music for advertising, film and television. The company came to be regarded as one of the foremost music production companies in the world. The list of awards won by Campbell and Hart is testimony to this fact.

He is a prolific composer having written extensively for Jazz Orchestra (including a guitar concerto for John Williams), Wind Band (pieces such as ‘Cartoon’ and ‘Circus Ring’), Orchestra, and smaller Ensembles. His orchestral works include two concertos (one written for Evelyn Glennie), an Anthem (dedicated to Nelson Mandela), and a set of variations on the British National Anthem. Paul has had three performances of his works at the BBC Promenade concerts including the Jazz composition ‘Out Of Hamelin’ performed by the National Youth Orchestra. His books of compositions and arrangements for flute & saxophone in the ‘All Jazzed Up’ series are best sellers; the Associated Board (ABRSM) have used them as examination pieces. Other commissions include pieces for London Brass, the British Clarinet Ensemble and The Kings Singers.

Together with the orchestral conductor David Arnold, he has composed a host of music identity packages for radio stations including ‘Classic FM’, ‘Jazz FM’ and the ‘BBC World Service’.

In 2009 his composition ‘All Thus Stand Light’ had its first performance, this was commissioned for the classical guitarist Fabricio Matos, as part of his Ivor Mariants Guitar Award from The Worshipful Company of Musicians. Also in May 2009 the guitarists John Williams and John Etheridge performed another new composition by Hart as part of the ‘Music at Oxford’ series in the Sheldon Theatre.

Sarah Ellen Hughes

I sang with NYJO 2001-2008 (principal from 2005-2008). Now I’m doing freelance singing and a bit of teaching – as I trained as a primary school teacher – and releasing my first album ‘Darning the Dream.’ Available from all good record shops!!!!!

Steve Titchener

I have been involved with NYJO since 1978, firstly as a trumpet player, then as a composer/arranger (writing many charts for the band that have been played and recorded over the years) and I have been Assistant Musical Director for the last eight years. I studied jazz at Leeds College of Music, The Guildhall School Of Music & completed a Masters Degree in jazz composition at The Manhattan School Of Music in New York City. While in New York, I had my own Big Band and was lucky enough to play with some of the best jazz musicians in New York including: Paquito D’Rivera, Tony Kadleck, Bob Mintzer, Chris Potter, Ryan Kisor, Ed Shaughnessy, Lew Soloff, Scott Wendholt to name but a few. On this side of the Atlantic I have played in many shows and bands including The Syd Lawrence Orchestra & Shirley Bassey.

I am currently Head Of Brass & Music Technology at Christ’s Hospital School just outside Horsham in Sussex.