- Jersey Eisteddfod launching new jazz category
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- Video: Watch one of last year’s winners in action
A POPULAR musician who dedicated years of his life to the Jersey Big Band is to be honoured by the Jersey Eisteddfod with the creation of a new jazz category in his name.
Trombonist and JEP journalist Gordon Young, who was chairman of the Jersey Big Band for several years before his sudden death in 2002 aged 69, is to be remembered by the Gordon Young Jazz Awards.
It will be the first time in the performing arts festival’s 107-year history that the genre will be included.
- The Jersey Eisteddfod was founded in 1908 by the then Dean, Samuel Falle.
- With the exception of the years of the two world wars, it has taken place annually ever since.
- Initially a speech and music contest, it expanded rapidly to encompass other disciplines and crafts, with dance, art, needlework, photography being early additions, which still thrive.
- ?There are currently two festivals held annually: the Festival of Creative Arts, held in March (the Spring Festival) and the Festival of Performing Arts held in November (the Autumn Festival). Each attracts nearly 3,000 entries.
- The Spring Festival is held at the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society Headquarters at Trinity, while the Autumn Festival is held at the Opera House and the Arts Centre.
- There are currently fifteen autonomous sections in the Eisteddfod.
- ?The management of the Jersey Eisteddfod is accomplished by volunteers who either hold office, or who are enrolled to assist as stewards on an occasional basis.
Entrants will be able to compete in the junior instrumental solo, the senior instrumental solo, junior vocal solo, senior vocal solo and ensembles categories on 4 November as part of the Deutsche Bank Autumn Festival of the Performing Arts.
Mr Young’s widow, Mary, said she thought her late husband would have been ‘overjoyed’ to learn that jazz was being recognised at the Eisteddfod.
‘It’s such a vital music genre and it has had a real resurgence over the last few years, with lots of youngsters showing interest,’ Mrs Young said.
‘He was an avid jazz fan and enjoyed listening to, and learning about, jazz music all his adult life and would have been thrilled that the education and development of others in the category would be linked to his name.
‘After his death so many fellow musicians told me of his kind encouragement and I feel that now, being linked to jazz at the Eisteddfod, he will forever be associated with the passion, enthusiasm and encouragement he showed to others in his lifetime – a truly fitting legacy.’
The category was created after a donation was made by the Gordon Young Memorial Fund, which was set up after Mr Young’s death to help young jazz musicians.
Jane Le Sueur, a fellow Big Band member, said: ‘Those of us who knew Gordon and his love, and indeed encyclopaedic knowledge, of jazz felt this would be the most appropriate way to both honour his memory and to continue to do what he did in his lifetime – encourage musicians of any age to play to the best of their ability and to enjoy joining with others to make music.
‘We hope that there will be an enthusiastic response from Jazz musicians and vocalists to compete in the new classes on offer.’
Anyone wishing to enter any of the jazz classes can do so by submitting a postal entry, which can be downloaded from jerseyeisteddfod.org.je by tomorrow.
Performers can also enter in person on the final entry day, Friday 18 September 2015, between 3.30pm and 7.30pm at the Town Hall.
