Current Chair Holders

NYJO SECTIONS

“NYJO is a well-honed ensemble of Britain’s finest young musicians, masterfully led by Mark Armstrong. Jazz is in good hands with this wonderful organization.” Bob Mintzer

Scroll down to meet our 2018 Chair Holders:

Composer Section

Charlie
Bates

Composer

Charlie is a composer, arranger and pianist based in London, and the first ever holder of NYJO's Composer Chair. Read More...

Flute Section

Maria is a Flautist, Singer and Composer based in London. She finished her Bachelor’s Degree in jazz at the Guildhall School of Music, where she studied flute with some of the countries’ top jazz and classical flautists including Gareth Lockrane, Ian Clarke, Stan Sulzmann and more. She also studies 2nd study jazz voice with Tina May. Read More...

Horn Section

Stephen
Payne

Horn

Stephen started playing the horn age 10 and just five years later he successfully auditioned for Junior Guildhall and began studying with David Bentley. Read More...

Reeds Section

Asha
Parkinson

Tenor Saxophone

Asha Parkinson is a London-based saxophonist and composer whose work regularly crosses the boundaries between traditions. Read More...

George
Garford

Alto Saxophone

Hailing from Cambridgeshire, George moved to London in 2017 to study jazz at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Read More...

James
Romaine

Alto Saxophone

James is a Saxophonist, Composer and Bandleader based in Birmingham. He graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in July 2019 where he studied under the tutelage of highly respected Musicians and educators; Read More...

Stephanie
Frankland

Baritone Saxophone

Hailing from North Yorkshire, Stephanie is in her 4th year studying at the Royal College of Music with Martin Robertson and Andy Panayi. Read More...

Xhosa
Cole

Tenor Saxophone

Handsworth-born Xhosa Cole is an embodiment of the success of numerous community arts programmes in Birmingham. Read More...

Rhythm Section

Adam
Chinery

Guitar

Adam is originally from Essex and now lives in London, having just finished a Jazz degree at Trinity Laban Read More...

Alex
Taylor

Percussion

Originally from Northamptonshire, Alex started his musical education on drum kit, but eventually moved on to playing percussion in county orchestras and ensembles. Read More...

Joe
Hill

Piano

Joe first began playing piano at the young age of 6, pursuing both jazz and classical to a high standard. Read More...

Luke
Tomlinson

Drums

Luke Tomlinson is a young and budding drummer on the rise in the UK music scene. Read More...

Matthew
Hollick

Bass

Born in Plymouth, into a musical family alongside five older siblings, Matt began his journey in music at the age of six, where he started to learn the cornet with his father. Read More...

Trombone Section

Daniel
Higham

Trombone

Daniel has been playing the trombone since the age of 8 and has been involved in NYJO’s organisation ever since, starting in the Academy Big Band the same year. Read More...

Eddie
Curtis

Bass Trombone

Eddie is a Bass Trombonist currently in his third year of study at the Royal College of Music. Read More...

Harrison
Maund

Trombone

Harrison started playing the Trombone at the age of 6 through the Wigan Music Service. At the age of 11 he attended Chetham’s School of Music where he found his love for Jazz. Read More...

Jacob
Cooper

Trombone

Originally from Yorkshire, Jacob began trombone lessons aged 7 and quickly became interested in jazz. Read More...

Joel
Knee

Trombone

Joel is an instrumentalist and composer from Petersfield in Hampshire. He is currently in his final year of studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London Read More...

Trumpet Section

Dan
Coulthurst

Trumpet

Dan Coulthurst was raised in a musical family and started learning the Trumpet aged 8. After initially perusing a keen interest classical music, Dan found his true passion in Jazz - particularly Big Band. Read More...