Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra History Page

Mike Rose a music teacher from Hartlebury established the Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra (WJO) in 1996 with the aid of National Lottery funding provided by the West Midlands Arts Council.

When Mike retired as Director of Music, Ian Hattersley took up the baton with responsibility for improving all aspects of music played by the WJO. Within two years Ian achieved runner up and winner for the WJO at the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival in the Open Jazz Section.

Based in Worcestershire the WJO is constituted as a non-profit making organization with a committee drawn from its members and also supports a youth rehearsal band "The Worcestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO). WJO rehearsals are held every other Sunday at the Royal British Legion Droitwich, where musicians of all standards are always welcome.

We base our repertoire around " Big Band Swing " from the late thirties to the present day covering the arrangements of Glen Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Ted Heath. We are continuingly broadening our repertoire adding arrangements from Sammy Nestico, dance music of the 50's to 70's and contemporary scores making for a lively programme of music.

Our line-up consists of three Alto Saxes, three Tenor Saxes, a Baritone Sax, four Trumpets, four Trombones, Keyboard, Bass and Rhythm Guitars and Drums. Our players are a mix of professional, semi-professional and highly proficient amateurs sharing the common aim to enjoy themselves whilst striving to meet the standards and aims of the WJO.

Playing throughout the County, our venues have included the Kidderminster Library, the Norbury Theatre Droitwich, the Worcester Royal Grammar School, the Regal Tenbury Wells, the Palace at Redditch, the Three Counties Showground, Huntingdon Hall Worcester, the Worcester Rugby Football Club and the Millennium Bandstand Bromsgrove.

We play for charities and have raised funds for The National Association for Colitis and Crohn's disease, The League of Friends of Tenbury Hospital, The Acorn Trust, The RNLI and The Primrose Hospice at Bromsgrove.

We are always happy to receive enquiries for our services, which can be made using our contact page.