6 May 2025
As Derry enjoys its annual Jazz and Big Band Festival this weekend, the sound of swing is echoing through local schools thanks to a vibrant outreach programme funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council, delivered by Live Music Now. The initiative aims to ignite a passion for jazz in the next generation, ensuring the festival's legacy resonates with young people across the city.
Aisling McCallion, Festival Co-ordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, explained more: “Inspiring and providing opportunities for new talent is one of our main priorities at the City of Derry Jazz Festival and we want its legacy to filter down through the generations. Our local schools really support the festival and the Live Music Now programme provides a wonderful experience for all those who take part. The pupils have the opportunity to enjoy the unique experience of a live performance and to learn from some of our most talented local musicians.
This year’s programme featured two key components. Firstly, "Jazz Labs" brought the infectious energy of jazz to seven schools. Professional jazz musicians Neil Burns, Victoria Geelan, Meilana Gillard and John Leighton delivered 19 engaging performances, introducing pupils to the fundamental elements of the genre and sparking their curiosity about the upcoming festival.
Secondly, the "School of Jazz" programme provided a more intensive experience for aspiring young musicians in two local schools. Students at St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College and St Joseph’s Boys School were honing their skills in improvisation and performance under the guidance of our seasoned jazz professionals. This immersive programme was designed not only to develop their musical talents but also to sow the seeds for future careers in music.
The culmination of the "School of Jazz" was held within each school with a "Mini Jazz Festival ". These showcases will provide a platform for the young musicians to demonstrate their newfound skills, sharing the stage with their professional mentors and celebrating the vibrant sounds of jazz.
St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s hosted their showcase on Thursday 1st May followed by St Joseph’s Boys School on Friday 2nd May. Head of Music at St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College, Gareth Doherty said. “We had a great week working with Meilana and John. They gave an excellent concert workshop to our Year 9 pupils introducing them to jazz. Our GCSE music students and school band members had a great experience getting coached in performance skills and musicianship to perform together and showcase a number of songs to our own Year 8 pupils. Meilana and John were very encouraging and helped our students to perform and improvise with confidence. They have really flourished from the experience.”
"This project is about more than just introducing jazz to schools," says Margaret Kelly, Project Manager from Live Music Now Northern Ireland, "It's about igniting a lifelong love of music, fostering creativity, and providing young people with the opportunity to connect with professional musicians. We hope to inspire the next generation of jazz artists and ensure that the City of Derry's rich musical heritage continues to thrive."
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Derry Schools Swing into Jazz with Live Music Now – Derry City & Strabane District Council
