City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival

Education Programme
Live Music Now
Putting the ‘fun’ into funky for local
school-children. Almost 1500 children
across Derry and Strabane will get a fun
and funky ‘taste of jazz’ with Live Music
Now’s schools programme in the run-up
to the 2022 festival. Between March and
May, pupils at 15 primary schools will
experience jazz taster performances in
their school hall, delivered by pianist
John Leighton and singer / saxophonist
Meilana Gillard.
John and Meilana are familiar faces on the
Northern Irish jazz scene, though Meilana
hails from Ohio originally. Together they
make a big sound, with Meilana’s gutsy,
soulful vocals and John’s funky piano
playing. The short performances will be
interactive and fun, including familiar
jazz standards, and will be a perfect
introduction to jazz for wee ones.
For more information or for your school to
register interest please email
alice.lewis@livemusicnow.org.uk
Jazz Bursary Winners 2022
Edan Bradley
Andrew McCoubrey
John Goodman
Jack McHale/Delta Fuse
Chris Doherty
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