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:
Flute Section
Jaymee
Coonjobeeharry
Flute
As a scholar of the Royal College of Music, Jaymee is in his second year studying for a Master of Performance degree, taught by Paul Edmund-Davies and Gitte Marcusson. Read More...

Horn Section
Sarah
Johnson
Horn
Sarah started playing the horn at the age of 10, alongside violin and piano. She made her debut with NYJO at the Barbican Centre in a collaborative performance with Jazz at Lincoln Centre in 2016 and has been a member since February 2017. Read More...

Reeds Section
Claire
Shaw
Baritone Saxophone
Claire is a recent First Class graduate of the Royal College of Music, graduating in June 2017. During her time at the RCM, she studied saxophone, clarinet and flute with Martin Robertson and Andy Panayi with saxophone as her principal study. Read More...


Tom
Barford
Tenor Saxophone
Winner of the Kenny Wheeler Prize 2017, Tom was raised in a musical family and grew up surrounded by great music, from Frank Sinatra to Louis Armstrong. Read More...

Tom
Ridout
Tenor Saxophone
Having just finished a degree in jazz at the Royal Academy of Music, Tom is a saxophonist, recorder player and composer who can be heard playing regularly in many venues across London Read More...

Tom
Smith
Alto Saxophone
“NYJO is a well-honed ensemble of Britain’s finest young musicians, masterfully led by Mark Armstrong.... Read more... Read More...

Rhythm Section
Jack
Tustin
Bass
Jack discovered jazz at the relatively late age of 16 – at Nick Weldon’s shoe factory in Rushden (Jazz School UK). 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...

Jonathan
Mansfield
Percussion
Jonathan Mansfield is a 20 year old vibraphone/marimba/drummer/percussionist and composer based in London. He began studying at the Royal Academy of Music in 2014 after being awarded the Colin Murray Scholarship. Read More...

Max
Mills
Drums
Max’s love for drums and percussion started at the age of 3, watching the Vienna Philharmonic playing at their New Year’s Concert on TV. Read More...


Trombone Section
Chris
Valentine
Trombone
Chris comes from Baldock and studied for a performance degree in the trombone at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Read More...

Ed
Parr
Trombone
A recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Ed now works full time as a trombonist based in London. Read More...

James
Maund
Bass Trombone
James began his music career in his home town in Wigan where he became a member of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO) under the Director Ian Darrington. Read More...

Maddie
Dowdeswell
Trombone
Maddie comes from Stevenage and plays both the trombone, which she started when she was 8, and the piano, which she started at the age of 6. Her first trombone teacher was Alan Hutt. Read More...

Rory
Ingham
Trombone
Rory Ingham is a 19 year old jazz trombonist, composer, and arranger based in London. Read More...

Trumpet Section
Alexandra
Ridout
Trumpet
Alexandra has been playing the trumpet since she was nine (gaining grade 8 distinction aged 13 and an LTCL diploma aged 16) A year later she also gained a place on the Junior Jazz course at The Royal Academy of Music. Read More...

George
Jefford
Trumpet
George currently studies trumpet with Paul Beniston and jazz piano with Barry Green. Read More...

Harry
Evans
Trumpet
Harry studies trumpet at the Trinity Laban Conservative of Music and Dance, where he is taught by Chris Batchelor. Read More...

Luke
Vice-Coles
Trumpet
Luke is currently an undergraduate at the Royal Academy of Music, where he is studying Jazz Trumpet, and spent 3 years on the Junior Royal Academy of Music Jazz course studying with Gareth Lockrane and Simon Colam. Read More...

Tom
Syson
Trumpet
Tom Syson is a trumpeter and creative musician based in the UK. He is, ‘one of the most interesting voices in the emerging generation of improvisers’ and is ‘happy to take risks’. Read More...

Vocals Section
Ellie
Bignall
Vocals
Ellie is a London-based Jazz singer who performs a variety of styles of music. Read More...

Freddie
Benedict
Vocals
Freddie’s voice has brought him a wealth of opportunities. He’s recorded ADR for Spectre, The Tunnel and My Mad Fat Diary, acted in The Alltogether with Martin Freeman, played Danny in Grease and Sky in Guys and Dolls. Read More...

Helena
Debono
Vocals
Helena gigs regularly and teaches music/vocals.vShe is involved in many projects including Neo-Soul/Jazz Collective ‘allcaps’ and big band ‘The Tom Sharp Jazz Orchestra’. Read More...

James
Hudson
Vocals
James is originally from the East Riding of Yorkshire where he attended the Northern Academy of Performing Arts and Northern Theatre Company, training in Vocals and Acting. Read More...


Rosina
Bullen
Vocals
Rosina is a young Jazz vocalist on the London Jazz scene. Originally from Suffolk she moved to London in 2012 and is currently in her fourth and final year on the undergraduate Jazz programme at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Read More...

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