Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra 1

The Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO) has been at the forefront of jazz education in Devon since 1975, having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Located on the southwestern peninsula of England, Devon is one of the country’s largest counties, and the DYJO recruits its musicians from all corners of this largely rural region. The DYJO consists of two ensembles:

• DYJO1, led by Graham Hutton, is the advanced-level orchestra, where members tackle an advanced repertoire and further hone their solo skills.
• DYJO2, led by Brian Moore, is the training orchestra where musicians are introduced to jazz solos and ensemble playing.

Many DYJO musicians go on to pursue professional careers in music, such as Emma Rawicz, who toured Vienna with the DYJO in 2017 and is performing this year with her own quintet at the festival. The DYJO has won numerous national awards and performed, in November 2025, at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall during the Music For Youth Schools Proms.