Biography of 6pac jazz sextet

6pac Jazz Sextet has worked extensively throughout the UK since they formed in June 2002. The players met whilst studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK). In June 2004 6pac were awarded the RNCM Gold Medal, the highest accolade for performance that the College bestows, and the only time in its history that an ensemble was awarded. Later in the same year the band received the Peter Whittingham Award for Innovative Jazz from the Musician’s Benevolent Fund for their project, ‘Last Minute Changes’. This led to a tour of northern universities and their subsequent debut CD featuring brand new music by young people and the band themselves, available through the website. The band continues to perform new music as well as putting their distinctive mark on jazz standards. Their second album, ‘Business as Usual’, is currently in production. The band performs all over the UK, from the Isle of Wight to Dunfermline, and a lot of driving in-between - at festivals including Manchester, IOW, and Peterborough; chamber music societies including St Martin In-The-Field, Macclesfield, and Saddleworth; and weddings everywhere else! 6pac have also performed for BBC Songs of Praise. Education and outreach work is also an important part of the groups work. As well as being part of the Live Music Now scheme, 6pac also holds its own week-long summer school as part Dartington Plus in Totnes, Devon.