DYJO (the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra), a jazz and swing band with players drawn from all over Devon, made their first visit to Holsworthy last Thursday when they performed to enthusiastic audiences in the Memorial Hall, writes Christine Williams.

In the orchestra, playing his saxophone, was 16-year-old Albert Shepherd, of Chilsworthy, a student at Holsworthy Community College — and in the audience, proudly watching and listening, was his mother Sandra, whose elder sons, Will and Jack, were former players in the orchestra.

Sandra had long hoped to persuade DYJO to visit to Holsworthy so having the band perform on the stage of the Memorial Hall was the realisation of a dream.

DYJO, which began 40 years ago and has won many national awards, comprises the best of Devon’s young jazz musicians and teaches them to play and perform a wide variety of jazz to a high standard.

The orchestra is split into two separate bands. DYJO2, is for 12 to 16-year-olds, currently 35 in number, focussing on the essentials of big band playing, and DYJO1 is the senior band for 15 to 19 year olds, currently numbering 24 players, which aims to stretch the players’ skills in all directions in a wide range of repertoire.

They meet for intensive monthly rehearsals at Exeter University from September to March, as well as for a three-day residential in October half-term.

A high proportion of players have gone on to careers in music. There is also a small band, called the Ambassadors, made up from the best players from DYJO1, who, led by Roz Harding, take jazz into the community by providing workshops in schools and by performing gigs around Devon.

On Thursday afternoon it was the Ambassadors who played in front of more than 200 Year 7 and 8 students from Holsworthy Community College and later held a workshop for college musicians.

In the evening after some small band jazz by the Ambassadors these musicians were able to join with them in front of a large audience at a public concert in the Memorial Hall and demonstrate how they had benefitted from the workshop.

After the interval during which delicious cakes specially baked by the college’s teaching assistants were available, the full force of DYJO1 was on the stage.

Directed by Brian Moore they presented a varied programme of rock, Latin and swing. This included ‘Introduction to a Samba’ arranged by Bob Curnow, the hot Latin sounds of ‘Samba del Gringo’ by Gordon Goodwin, Buddy Rich’s jazz waltz ‘Willowcrest’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown, ‘Give it One’ by Maynard Ferguson with its 13/8 and 16/8 time signatures, ‘Secret Love’, and ending in style with Benny Goodwin’s ‘Sing Sing Sing’.

In true big band tradition, after each virtuoso player stood to perform, he or she received the acclaim of the audience.

Proceeds of the evening were shared by the college’s music department and the PTFA.

Sandra declared the orchestra’s visit a resounding success. She said: “It was wonderful to have such a concert on our own doorstep and to give our youngsters a chance to hear live music.”

Judging by the warm applause that greeted the end of each concert, Holsworthy people, young and old, and especially the college musicians who were inspired by the workshop, will be hoping the DYJO’s next visit will be in the not too distant future.