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Graeme Lyall AM - Artistic Team Leader
James Morrison, John Morrison, Joe Chindamo, Mace Francis and Daryl Somers
Graeme Lyall AM – Artistic Team leader and composition and arranging specialist.
Graeme Lyall excels as a mentor, musical director, conductor, producer, composer, arranger and saxophonist of international standing. In 2003 Graeme was awarded an Order of Australian – Member in the Order for services to music as Artistic Director of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra, and as musical director, composer and performer and a Centenary Medal in recognition of commitment to music, particularly as Artistic Director of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Graeme commenced his professional career at the age of 17. Within five years he was appointed to a position with the TCN 9 Orchestra as a musician and arranger for great artists including Bobby Limb, Dave Allen, Don Lane, John Laws and Stuart Wagstaff. Graeme has produced/ arranged/ conducted for a who's who of Australian talent. Accolades include writing the winning arrangement at the Yamaha International Song Festival four times between 1974 and 1979; arranging and composing television themes such as "Willesee"- and “Special Squad"; composing, arranging and conducting the music for RFL and AFL Grand Finals and winning the Australian Writers and Art Directors Guild Award for the Best Music for a Television Commercial in 1987. Graeme continues to compose for all sizes and levels of ensembles.
High profile engagements include performing as the Musical Director for the Don Lane Show, Logie Awards, Carols by Candlelight and Hey Hey It's Saturday. He has composed and arranged for a variety of Australian artists including Olivia Newton-John, Debra Byrne, Colleen Hewitt and Normie Rowe and numerous overseas artists including Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones and Roger Woodward
Graeme’s continued involvement with WAYJO as leader of the Artistic team is testament to his dedication to WAYJO. Graeme is Head of Music at Tenison Woods Catholic College. He has held teaching positions at WAAPA, The Sydney Conservatorium of Music The VCA, and Goulburn Valley Grammar School. He has also been involved with a number of Youth Jazz Camps including adjudicator for the James Morrison Scholarship and previously at the National Saxophone Competition at Wangaratta. He is currently the Jazz member for the Australian Council Music board.
James Morrison Artistic team Big Band music specialist
James Morrison is, by anybody’s standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, he also plays trombone, euphonium, flugel horn, tuba, saxophones, and piano.
At seven, he was given his first instrument, at nine he formed his first band and at thirteen he was playing professionally in nightclubs. His international career developed equally as fast. Just turned 16 James Morrison debuted in the USA with a breathtaking concert at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
As well as performing at Jazz clubs and festivals around the world, James recorded “Jazz Meets the Symphony” with The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lalo Schifrin, performed at the Royal Albert hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for Princess Anne. Royal command performances on two occasions for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and for two US Presidents. James is head of Morrison Records, he gives master classes and workshops in many countries and runs a jazz scholarship. An avid user of the latest technologies James is involved in furthering jazz and music education on the Internet. He also uses computers extensively in his writing, recording and performances. When asked, “What is there left to do?” His reply; “This is just the warm up!”
John Morrison Artistic Team Big Band specialist
John Morrison is consistently voted Australia's best big band drummer, John has delighted audiences for more than 25 years with his dedication to swing. Equally at home in a small group or big band setting, his musical facility runs the entire spectrum from traditional jazz, swing, Bebop, R&B, Soul and commercial jazz rock.
John widened his exposure and experience also playing with a variety of other well-known artists including James Moody, Scott Hamilton, Richie Cole, John and Jeff Clayton, Garry Dial, Jimmy Whitherspoon, Eartha Kitt, Don Burrows, George Golla, and Bob Barnard."
Further to his playing schedule, John is a musical director for Pan Pacific and heads highly successful high school jazz music camps. He is known for his work in the recording studio both as player and producer and hosts his own "Jazz at Five" radio show on Sydney radio station FM 99.3
Joe Chindamo Artistic team composition specialist
Joe Chindamo started playing the accordion at six. He immediately fell in love with music and the idea of creating it. At 13 he won New Faces and Pot ‘O Gold. At 14 he made his first record.
Joe switched to piano at 15 and soon was working with band leader Denis Farrington. At 18, Joe attended Melbourne State College, where he received his first piano lesson. He quickly became the preferred pianist of Melbourne film composers Bruce Smeaton, Brian May, Bruce Rowlands, Nigel Westlake and Paul Grabowsky, and international composers, Jerry Goldsmith and Angelo Badalamenti.
In 2004 Joe received a fellowship from the Australia Council that included writing a composition for Accordion and Orchestra. His composition and arranging skills are well documented on his many recordings.
Joe's performed on more than 60 films, including Pharlap, Man from Snowy River 2 and Babe. He’s recorded with Vince Jones and Olivia Newton John, orchestrated and conducted for Peter Andre, performed with Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Shirley Bassey and Jazz greats Billy Cobham, Lee Konitz, Mike and Randy Brecker, Ernie Watts, Ravi Coltrane and the late Ray Brown. Joe has toured extensively throughout America, Europe, Japan and Argentina.
Mace Francis Musical Director WAYJO Composers Ensemble
Mace Francis is an arranger, composer and guitarist. He is the winner of the APRA Professional Development Award – Jazz. Mace formed MFO (Mace Francis Orchestra), a 12-piece ensemble, to experiment with composition and improvisation, and founded The Enthusiastic Musicians Union (EMU) – dedicated to promoting and encouraging original and improvised music.He was the winner of the international composition award Scrivere in Jazz 2004 – open age section, held in Sassari, Italy.
Mace has composed music for the short film Whipping Boy. Commissions include Visioni dall'australia (Visions from Australia) – a collaboration with Glenn Romanis (didgeridoo) - performed in Bra (Italy), Chinese Whispers, The Unpopular Song Book, WAYJO’s concert program in New York City 2006. Mace completed a Mace completed a Bachelor of Music – Jazz (Composition & Arranging) with First Class Honours at WAAPA.
Daryl Somers Commercial expertise
Daryl Somers is one of Australia’s most respected entertainers. Daryl hosted the enormously succeeful Somers Carrol production 'Hey Hey it's Saturday' and Channel 7's top rating 'Dancing with the Stars'. He has sung with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, starred as Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha, appeared in the concert version of The Hunting of the Snark and performed in a number of pantomimes. Whenever his busy schedule allows, he continues to perform on the musical stage. Daryl recently released his first CD Songlines.
Over the years Hey Hey and Daryl have generated enormous respect and admiration from international performers and promoters. This is because of the extreme professionalism and the rather unique format of Hey Hey. Overseas stars who have appeared with Daryl include El Divo, Olivia Newton John, Clint Eastwood, Robin Williams, Madonna, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Sylvester Stallone, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Paul McCartney, Michel Bolton, Elton John, U2 and many more.
Daryl Somers’ personal popularity has been marked over the years by winning 29 TV Week Logie Awards and countless other Industry Awards. Daryl has been actively involved in getting musicians like Kate Ceberano to Perth to work with and perform with the members of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra. |
