National Youth

Jazz Wales

Empowering the next jazz generation in Wales

National Youth Jazz Wales is an ambitious new partnership between Jazz Explorers Cymru, National Youth Arts Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, supported by the Arts Council of Wales and National Music Service Wales. Together, we aim to build a new talent development programme to inspire and support young jazz musicians throughout Wales.

We are now inviting aspiring young jazz musicians to a 3-day course of workshops, masterclasses and rehearsals, working with internationally renowned jazz educators, culminating in an informal public performance. It will be joyful, challenging and collaborative.

14-16 April 2025 at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.

The course is open to all instrumentalists and singers between the ages of 14-22. You don’t need prior jazz experience, but we suggest that everyone should be at least Grade 5 (or equivalent) standard on their instrument. Participants will be split into different groups based on their age and experience to ensure everyone receives the right level of support. 

The lead tutors will be Paula Gardiner, Huw Warren and Andrew Bain (Head of Jazz at RWCMD) – with additional support from other specialist tutors and jazz students. Scroll down for more information.

Whilst the full cost of the course has been subsidised by the partner organisations and the Arts Council of Wales, there is a nominal cost to participants (see below). The level of the fee is dependent on whether you need accommodation and how far you are travelling. Bursaries are also available for those from lower income households, to ensure that everyone can take part. The course will be welcoming and inclusive, but please contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Register

REGISTER HERE for further details and to secure your place. The deadline for registration is 3pm on 28 February 2025.

If you have any questions, please email us at nyaw@nyaw.org.uk

Lunches will be provided for everyone taking part. For those staying overnight, we will also provide breakfasts and dinner. Please inform us of any dietary requirements in the registration form.

Cost

£165 for course only

£165 for course and accommodation if you live outside Cardiff

£240 for course and accommodation if you live in Cardiff

If we receive more applications than we have accommodation, we will prioritise based on travelling distance. Bursaries are available, based on household income - further details here.

You should be aged between 14 and 22 on 14 April 2025. You must either have been born in Wales and/or currently living in Wales, or studying full-time in Wales. NYAW reserves the right to exclude anyone from taking part in its ensembles at its reasonable discretion, to be exercised by senior staff or trustees.

 For any questions about our eligibility criteria, please email us at: nyaw@nyaw.org.uk.

Meet our Jazz Tutors

Our tutors are drawn from the most experienced jazz educators and performers in Wales, including the current and previous Heads of Jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Details of more tutors will be added below, when available.

  • Andrew is Head of Jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

    Musician, educator and researcher, he is one of the leading performers and educators in Europe having performed with luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, John Taylor, NDR Big Band, Dave Liebman and Bob Mintzer, including a New York residency.

  • Paula was Head of Jazz at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama until retiring in 2023 to resume her freelance career.

    During the nineties and noughties, Paula founded several bands including the Paula Gardiner Quartet, 6, The Paula Gardiner Trio, Paula Gardiner 6.0 and the anarchic big band that was Wales’ Jazz Composers. She has worked internationally, taking her own music to the US and composing/conducting a major project in Wales and South Africa for the cultural Olympiad, 2012.

  • Welsh pianist and composer Huw Warren has an international reputation for innovative and eclectic music making. His playing and compositions have featured on major stages worldwide and as well as being frequently broadcast. Huw has appeared on over 50 recordings, including a set of highly individual albums under his own name. His approach to jazz education centres around the broadest possible definition of genre, and a focus on developing the individual voice both in improvising and composition.