Wells Cathedral School Jazz Orchestra Concert

The Wells Jazz Orchestra (WJO) was formed in 1986 and from humble beginnings has gone on to become a flagship ensemble within the music school. They have produced two commercial recordings and have won multiple awards including The Daily Telegraph Young Big Band of the year and a prize in the BBC Big Band of the Year Competition. They have undertaken several successful tours to Europe and Scotland and members of the group travelled to New York City in February 2024 to perform and take part in masterclasses. 

WJO has performed with a huge array of guest artists including Bruce Adams, Jim Hart, Don Lusher, Pete Long, Martin Shaw, Ralph Salmins, Ernie Watts, Carl Verheyen, Gareth Lockrane, Iain Ballamy, Mark Armstrong and Pee Wee Ellis.

They have performed at many UK jazz festivals including the Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival and were personally invited by Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis to perform at the Glastonbury Extravaganza supporting Jamie Cullum and Van Morrison in front of a 10,000-strong crowd.

Most band members go on to study at top Conservatoire jazz courses in the UK and abroad and many of our alumni have high profile and successful careers in music.

For this concert, the band will be performing a variety of classic and contemporary big band repertoire by Bob Mintzer, Count Basie and Les Hooper.