Yamaha Education News

Yamaha Partners Cheltenham Jazz Festival To Support New Artists

Yamaha Music has confirmed that the world famous Cheltenham Jazz Festival will become a showcase event for young jazz musicians coming through it's pioneering Yamaha Jazz Experience scheme.

Since its launch in 1996 Cheltenham Jazz Festival has become synonymous with innovation and creativity. In 2009 the programme revels in the freshest new sounds, one-off collaborations and cutting edge projects. Sultry songstress Madeleine Peyroux, legendary South African trumpeter, Hugh Masekela, and Alex Wilson's Salsa Orchestra will all feature in this year's eclectic line-up. A relationship with BBC Radio 2 continues to inspire star-studded collaborations and special live broadcasts including festival favourite 'Friday Night is Music Night'. For the third year running the Budvar Marquee will take over Imperial Gardens with a series of free events across the bank holiday weekend. Also, in a unique collaboration, Michael Rosen will be joined by The Homemade Orchestra in a fun, family-friendly event. The full programme will be available in March.

Events will take place at a range of venues bringing a Festival atmosphere to the Cotswold town and, for the third year running, the Budvar Marquee in Imperial Gardens will play host to a series of fantastic free events across the bank holiday weekend. This will include a performance by the winners of the 2nd Budvar Brewed Jazz Competition with the victorious group also winning the opportunity to appear on the main stage at Pub in The Park.

Yamaha will be supporting this year's festival with a range of instruments, including a Jamie Cullum signed Yamaha DGX630 Digital Piano. The 2010 festival will host a dedicated event, on Saturday 1st May 2010, showcasing the cream of up-coming jazz ensembles from throughout the UK's schools, who have benefited from the acclaimed Yamaha Jazz Experience project.

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(Posted February 2009)