The Sound of Leicester 2025
Be inspired. Be empowered. Be creative!
NYJC invites you to take part in their inspirational Leicester Regional Creative Hub for young improvisers and composers (beginner to young professional) aged 8-18 at Cosmopolitan Arts Parkside House, 72 Friday Street, LE1 3BW in Leicester.
Dates
- Sunday 18 May 2025, 10am–6pm
- Sunday 22 June 2025, 10am–6pm
- Sunday 20 July 2025, 10am–6pm
Attendance is required at all workshop dates.
Work in highly creative sessions that are informal, participative, and good fun. Each will improve your ability to play by ear, improvise, compose and arrange together and create new musical ideas, building your confidence as an improviser, composer and band member… things you don’t often get taught elsewhere!
You’ll learn an exciting programme of tunes by ear and collectively compose new works together (such a magical thing to do!).
Meet and connect with other enthusiastic young musicians, share your interests, and celebrate each other’s talent by joining this exciting programme – making friendships for life
We welcome ALL instrumentalists and vocalists of any style and tradition – not just jazz! No music grades are required – but a basic ability (similar to grade 3) at entry level is recommended. Participants will be divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups – so you’ll always be playing with other young musicians at your level of ability. Each group will be guided by outstanding teaching artists from our faculty and NYJC’s Founding Artistic Director, Issie Barratt.
(Please note: All participants, except pianists, are expected to bring their own instruments)
All workshops will end in a sharing session at 4:30pm open to parents/guardians
Application deadline: Sunday 4 May 2025
Location
Cosmopolitan Arts, Parkside House, 72 Friday Street, LE1 3BW
Cost
The participation cost for 3 days is £105
ANYONE CAN APPLY FOR A BURSARY
We don’t want anyone to miss out because they cannot afford the fees. NYJC offers means-tested bursaries for those needing financial help. This can include covering the full costs of the regional programme enrolment fee, and transport costs to the workshops. Bursaries also cover the cost of an accompanying traveller for under 16s.
Please complete our separate bursary application form below.
About NYJC
The National Youth Jazz Collective specialises in bringing together young musicians (aged 8-18), keen to develop their creative skills and interests through small group improvisation and composition. Whether complete beginners or young professionals, our programme of regional and national projects develops their ability to play by ear, improvise, compose, arrange and band-lead through an inspirational and diverse programme of cross-genre, cross-cultural repertoire – introducing them to other young musicians of similar age and ability, within a nurturing and supportive environment. All NYJC activity is supported by online teaching & learning resources and bespoke programmes of Continuing Professional Development, designed to support the creative needs of the young musicians’ teachers and music leaders.
Meet some of NYJC’s stellar award-winning alumni, who first worked with NYJC aged 8-18.
