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Jazz It Up For Intrepid Young Explorer

Diane Brookes (May 19th 2009, 11:30am)

McAuley Sixth Former, Laurie Whittaker, has been selected by the charitable gap year organisation, Project Trust, to volunteer in Guyana, South America for a year teaching maths in a secondary school. She will be living in the remote mountainous village of Paramakatoi where access is by foot or by air, where the electricity supply is limited and the living conditions, by English standards, very basic. Project Trust is one of the most experienced and reputable gap year charity organisations in the UK and specialises in sending young people to developing countries for a year where they will immerse themselves in the culture of a country very different from their own, giving them a challenging and exciting opportunity to develop themselves as individuals as well as their understanding of different cultures. Laurie will be living as a local, with one other volunteer, teaching maths to the equivalent of GCSE standard, to mainly Amerindian students who will sometimes travel great distances to attend. Guyana has a severe shortage of maths and science teachers and so Laurie’s input will be much appreciated, particularly in this remote region where few teachers are willing to venture. Laurie was chosen for this placement because of her qualities both as a mathematician, and as a teacher.

Laurie needs to raise £ 4660 to fund her placement overseas, and as well as many fundraising bake sales, garden parties, bike rides, car boots and market stalls, she has teamed up with the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association to put on a benefit concert to raise funds for both her project and the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association’s European Exchange programme. Laurie is a keen member of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association, playing tenor saxophone in the Stageband, and has participated in the exchange programmes with both Herten in Germany, and Limonest in France.

The Doncaster Youth Jazz Association is THE leading jazz education provider in the Doncaster area with a national reputation for excellence. Firm believers in the power of music to unite and promote a sense of community, the emphasis is on team spirit, hard work and self-discipline, as well as creativity and the development of real, practical musicianship which will equip those who wish to become professional musicians with the skills appropriate for today’s market.

Please support Laurie and the DYJA Stageband by coming to the benefit gig on Sunday 24th May at 2-30 pm at the Earl of Doncaster Hotel on Bennetthorpe, DN2 6AD. Playing Jazz, Rock and Latin classics from their repertoire, these are a lively bunch of talented and dedicated young musicians offering a foot-stomping afternoon of ensemble playing and solo improvisations, led by the effervescent and entertaining John Ellis, MBE, who demands always the best of his young performers.

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The Crossing Gig

Thomas Watling (March 14th 2009, 04:48pm)

The time for the event has been updated on the website. The doors open at 18:45, but the band needs to arrive by 18:00 for a sound check and to sort out the programme. Please view the Diary Dates page for a link to a map to the venue.

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Concert On 21st Feb Canceled

Thomas Watling (February 11th 2009, 10:29pm)

Please note that the Swing Orchestra concert scheduled for 21st February has been canceled.

There is a swing orchestra rehearsal next Wednesday (18th February).

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Volunteers Needed

Diane Brookes (January 28th 2009, 12:13pm)

ARE YOU ABLE TO VOLUNTEER?

We are in need of some volunteers to go onto the Saturday morning rota.

For more information please contact the office 01302 320002

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