Helston School Jazz Orchestra
Created | Updated Nov 3, 2002
Who are HSJO?
HSJO is made up from students from Helston School and Helston College, Cornwall. Feel free to visit http://www.hsjo.co.uk.
HSJO – A Brief History!
The band, comprising Helston School and Community College students was formed in 1989. Only three years later in 1992 they gained a Silver Award in the finals of the Boosey and Hawkes National Championships in Manchester, and a Gold Award in the same competition in 1993 when alto saxophonist Natalie Barber, won the outstanding soloist award. Additional recognition of the outstanding ability of the band came with 1st places in the Daily Telegraph competition (SW Region) in 1992 and 1994. In following years HSJO have won another two Gold Awards in the B and H Finals in Manchester.
The band has already made three recordings including their latest CD "Good News", as well as having been featured on BBC Radio Cornwall and on Channel 4's Big Breakfast Show.
In the summer of 1994 the band was invited to play at Montreux and at the Geneva Jazz Festival. Further successful tours have followed to Italy and also to North Eastern Spain. An invitation followed to play at the National Finals of the Festival of Youth in the Royal Festival Hall, London where lead alto saxophonist, James Aldous, was awarded the outstanding soloist award. Summer 2001 saw the band touring Malta and Gozo to great acclaim and they have been invited to return to the islands for another tour - possibly in 2003.
More recently during the Millennium year they gained yet another Gold Award in Manchester, where flugel player Polly Gillow was awarded the outstanding soloist award. Following their outstanding performance they were invited to share the bill with the world renowned Syd Lawrence Orchestra in September. The orchestra was also Cornwall's representatives at The Dome in November where the floor manager believed they were the best band to appear at The Dome all year!
Following a stunning performance at the SW Regional heats in Chepstow in December 2000 which left the adjudicators "gobsmacked", professing the band's playing to be "truly remarkable". At the National Concert Band Finals in Manchester in April 2001 they achieved a silver award.
HSJO embarked on another quest for a gold award in September 2001 at Chepstow where the adjudicators professed them to be frighteningly good.
HSJO played alongside The Syd Lawrence Jazz Orchestra during the summer of 2002, and are once more going to Chepstow in December 2002, to attempt to get through to the National Concert Band Finals once more.
We are going on tour!
HSJO were invited back to Malta and Gozo after their visit in July 2000. The return trip is planned for July 2003.
Band Members of 2002/2003
Saxophones - Thomas Butcher,Amanda Bradley, Kathy Davis, Hannah Oliver, Bryher Toms, Jenna Clemence, Eddie Rourke, Jamie Graham.
Trumpets - Name unknown, Lara Earle, Lowenna Christophers, Tamsin Christophers, Hannah Butcher.
Trombones - Anthony Green, Michael Hall, Shane Retallack, David Green, Andrew Taylor.
Piano/Keyboards - Sarah Janes
Guitar - Darren Roberts
Bass Guitar - Paul Marks Joffe
Drums - Christopher Varah
Tuned Percussion - Kimberley Salt
Untuned Percussion - Kimberley Salt
John Austin – Musical Director
John Austin, on leaving Christ's Hospital School where he played saxophone and trumpet, joined the Royal Artillery Band at Woolwich and studied at the Guildhall School of Music under the late Bernard Brown. Following a period of fourteen years as a professional freelance trumpeter he returned to his home county of Cornwall to teach music and to form his five-piece showband. Later came his very popular big band "The Sound of Glen Miller" which broadcast and recorded.
John has been employed for eighteen years as a peripatetic brass teacher for the County Music Service which is a part of the Cornwall Education Authority. For eight of those years he was Head of Brass and, additionally for the past four years was appointed to the post of area co-ordinator for the west of Cornwall with a special responsibility for jazz education within the County.
He is the Musical Director of Helston School Jazz Orchestra I who have won many awards of National Festivals and Competitions. The orchestra has toured extensively including such prestigious venues as Montreux and the Geneva Jazz Festival.
As conductor of Helston School Jazz Orchestra II John introduces many young musicians to jazz and this band provides a springboard for the students who progress into HSJOI.
John passionately believes that jazz plays an extremely important part both in developing social skills and in helping to provide a broad musical experience for all young musicians.
JOHN AUSTIN (dpse)
Member of the Royal Society of Musicians
Member of the International Trumpet Guild
Member of the British Music Writers Council
Member of the International Association of Jazz Educators
For more info
For more information, visit our website - Http://www.hsjo.co.uk.
This will hopefully keep you up to date with gigs etc. Maybe we will see you there!
Once again, WATCH THIS SPACE for more on Helston School Jazz Orchestra!
Misscooldude
3.11.2002
