Biography of Doncaster Jazz Orchestra

The first Doncaster-based (South Yorkshire, England) youth jazz orchestra was formed 35 years ago. DYJA (The Doncaster Youth Jazz Association) now consists of four graded orchestras – Doncaster Youth Stageband, Doncaster Youth Swing Orchestra, Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Doncaster Jazz Orchestra.


The Association continues to work hard through jazz education to promote a feeling of community and a real appreciation of how much it means to create something as part of a team. Many opportunities for young musicians are provided through the Association – playing in a ‘big band’ ensemble, playing in smaller jazz groups, workshops on individual instruments and on different aspects of jazz, lessons, foreign exchanges (most notably with Limonest, France and Herten, Germany), and many opportunities to perform in public and at special events.


DYJA is both nationally and internationally recognised. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the Doncaster Youth Swing Orchestra has won the Outstanding Performance award at the North of England Big Band Competition. The Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra played at the Albert Hall after getting the Outstanding Performance award at the National Festival for Music for Youth in 2006. In January 2007, the Doncaster Jazz Orchestra was invited to represent Europe and the UK to perform in New York at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) International Conference and at the United Nations.


2008 is DYJA’s 35th anniversary, reflecting back on 35 fantastic years of sheer hard work and dedication by so many people – both students and adults – it is gratifying to see just how much has been achieved through this collective effort.