Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra Performs

Vibrant jazz music has been captivating audiences for decades, and one group that has been making waves on the local music scene is the Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra.

What is the Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra's background? The orchestra was founded in 1981 as part of Kent Music and has been led by saxophonist Mike Austin, a former member, with pianist Dan Banks as the other tutor, rehearsing weekly in Maidstone.

How does the orchestra operate? The Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra is open to musicians aged 11 to 18 playing at around Grade 4 level and above on brass, woodwind, guitar, percussion or keyboard, and it plays an exciting mix of jazz standards, jazz-rock and jazz-funk.

What can audiences expect from the performance? The orchestra will perform at The Alexander Centre, Faversham, on Friday, 13 November 2026, as part of the outstanding Jazz@TheAlex programme, with tickets available with the button beside the article.