The first Doncaster based youth jazz orchestra was formed in 1973 by John Ellis (current director of band studies), who at that time was a peripatetic brass teacher with the West Riding of Yorkshire. The Doncaster Youth Jazz Association subsequently evolved as an independent voluntary organisation, founded to promote jazz education and performance opportunities for young musicians in the Doncaster area. Four graded orchestras now exist; the Doncaster Youth Stageband, Doncaster Youth Swing Orchestra, Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra and the alumni Doncaster Jazz Orchestra. A striving for diversity has also seen the emergence of specialised smaller ensembles e.g. Jazz Octet, Dance combo, Saxophone Quintet, etc.

"There is no substitute for the creativity, sensitivity, originality, self-discipline and emotional involvement provided by jazz orchestra participation. The best music programme's, on close examination, are usually the more diverse. Also, of all the arguments in support of a jazz curriculum, the sheer enjoyment provided for audiences and students is possibly the most valid. I feel that all students should be given every opportunity for exposure to and involvement in all styles of music. In particular, those students who show exceptional musical talent should be provided an outlet to further develop their capabilities in a practical and realistic field. Jazz, swing and rock are valid art forms and offer a marketable vocation for many. Jazz is at the core of all modern and popular light music, so the professional musician of tomorrow needs to study the harmonic and rhythmic idioms of jazz today. The Association continues therefore to work to promote through jazz education a feeling of community and a real appreciation of how much it means to create something as part of a team. There is something magical about the way in which a group of young people can be brought together with a common purpose and I never cease to be amazed at how much they can accomplish when, with single-minded dedication, they apply themselves to projects set before them."

John Ellis