AYJO Band Kick-Off Concert

Sunday
at 6:00pm

Shangri-La Plaza
EDSA, Mandaluyong, Philippines

Jazz Night with Japanese Musicians
Catch the free jazz concert of the AYJO Band on February 22 at Shangri-La Plaza

The Japan Foundation Asia Center, PIJazzfest Foundation and the Shangri-La Plaza cordially invite the public to the one-night-only concert of the Asian Youth Jazz Orchestra (AYJO) Band on February 22 (Sunday), 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the East Atrium of Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City.

Six talented musicians from Japan – Osamu Matsumoto (trombone), Mayuko Katakura (piano), Yuri Kishimoto (saxophone), Mariko Maeda (trombone), Nohara Okamoto (electric bass) and Fumihiro Ibuki (drums) – will serenade the crowd for free as part of PI Jazz Fest 2015. More importantly, the jazz concert will serve as AYJO’s introductory event in Manila.

AYJO is a long-term project of the Japan Foundation Asia Center, with planning and production by Planet Arts Co. Its primary aim is to organize a new jazz orchestra consisting of young musicians in Asia whom they would train through international exchange and collaboration. Members will be screened and chosen through auditions in participating countries.

In Manila, auditions will be held on February 21 at the University of Santo Tomas and on February 23 at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Music students as well as young musicians who responded through the open-call to audition will be given the chance to showcase their talents in playing Latin percussion, trombone, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and flute. Successful applicants will get to join the rehearsal camps in Tokyo and perform throughout Asia from August to December 2015.

Jazz was chosen for its improvisational nature. With inspiration and spontaneity, which come from the musicians’ free thoughts and feelings, jazz creates a world of sounds through balance of interactions. Thus, jazz meets the purpose of creating new sounds through the interaction of young musicians.

Experience the wonders of jazz live at the upcoming concert! For inquiries and seat reservations, please contact The Japan Foundation, Manila at 811-6155 to 58 and email@jfmo.org.ph. Visit www.jfmo.org.ph and www.facebook.com/jfmanila for more details and updates.