Now entering its fifteenth year, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) Composer in Residence program has announced its recipients for 2022.
Congratulations to Thomas Voss (our very own Jazz SA program co-ordinator) who will be their 2022 Composer in Residence, along with 21-year-old Associate Composer Bob Tweedie (WA).
“We were again pleasantly surprised at the quality of applications this year for the 2022 Composer in Residence. Thomas showed us exceptional big band craft and mature writing. Bob showed us interesting and exciting compositional ideas that I am excited to see transferred to big band format. This is an exciting year for this project and I am looking forward to hearing and seeing the results.” WAYJO Artistic Director, Dr Mace Francis.
Thomas is a trombonist and composer/arranger who performs with and writes for a variety of local ensembles, including his own septet and big band. Thomas was selected as the lead trombonist for the 2021 and 2022 Australian National Jazz Orchestra Youth Big Bands, has performed in Adelaide’s 2019 International Jazz Day concert and was the Jazz SA Superbands 2019 Composer in Residence (also serving as the program’s coordinator since 2021). Thomas won the 2017 Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition and was a finalist in the 2017 James Morrison Scholarship.
Pianist Bob Tweedie (WAYJO Member 2018-2022) is a graduating student of the WAAPA jazz course (Hons), and current member of WAYJO’s Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO). Some notable performances include being featured at the 2021 Perth International Jazz Festival with Sam Forster, as well as alongside some of Perth’s best pianists at the Ellington Jazz Club’s Solo Piano Showcase.
The WNO will record these exciting new works in July at Loop Studios in West Perth. Applications for the WAYJO’s 2023 composer in residence program will open early next year. For more information, visit wayjo.com/composer-in-residence