Jazz on Tour
Trinity Laban’s large jazz ensembles are on a mission to inspire the next generation of young musicians, performing live in schools and music centres across London.
Based in Greenwich, Trinity Laban’s world-class jazz programme has launched the careers of many of the top names on the current UK music scene including Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, and members of Ezra Collective. And right now Trinity Laban’s large jazz ensembles are on a mission to directly inspire the next generation of young musicians, and help school students to develop an appreciation of the music’s context and distinctive elements.
Since Autumn 2021, our ensembles have been visiting schools on Thursday mornings performing concerts. Presented by Trinity Laban Jazz tutors and students, over 7,000 school students have experienced a range of jazz from the 1940s to the present day.
Jazz on Tour performances are primarily targeted to KS3 year groups, but will also be appropriate for KS4 pupils and older KS2 school years.
2026/27 dates: Available Thursday mornings across 5 November – 25 March
Take a deep dive into jazz
For 2026/27, we’re thrilled to announce that Trinity Laban’s Studio Band and Monk Band will be on the road this year, available for school visits in South East London and beyond!
Booking a Jazz on Tour ‘package’ for your school will include:
- A 50 minute concert, for an audience of as many of your students as you want to experience it;
- An interactive resource pack, sent in advance, to enable students to engage with and better understand the concert repertoire;
- A prior practical workshop for up to 20 of your more advanced music students, which may enable them to perform side-by-side in part of the subsequent concert.
We particularly welcome bookings from schools that are interested in developing their jazz provision, and look forward to exploring with you how Trinity Laban can be further involved with that.
The cost of Jazz on Tour is £100 all inclusive.
Feedback from teachers and students
I enjoyed hearing a live big band in real life, and to hear all this music recreated.
Key Stage 3 student participant
Superb! Extremely high quality, very professional, engaging and informative… We have had a big uptake in brass lessons since the concert and more interest in GCSE Music
Secondary school music teacher
The Trinity Laban Studio Band
This twenty-piece big band brings you music from across the big band repertoire from Count Basie to Charles Mingus! Mentored by acclaimed bassist and Trinity Laban Jazz Tutor Calum Gourlay, the ensemble demonstrate their passion through the genre by playing a selection of classics – and they want to share their enthusiasm. It’s your classic big band line-up: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section. There’s no better introduction to the world of big band jazz.
The Trinity Laban Monk Band
The Trinity Laban Thelonious Monk Band is a 10-piece ensemble that explores Monk’s iconic music in depth. Trinity Laban’s senior students come together in this project, in a line-up inspired by the classic ‘Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall’ 1959 album. Expect accessible music with a joyful, soulful and big sound, with spontaneity and excitement added by improvisations on the spot! The band is mentored by award-winning Trinity Laban tutor saxophonist Tony Kofi, one of the UK’s leading jazz musicians and educators.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the performance be?
A typical concert presentation will last between 45 – 60 minutes.
The accompanying prior workshop will also ideally last an hour.
Who are the performances aimed at?
Our priority is to reach out to KS3 students, and help you inspire them to continue their journey in music, but the concert would also be appropriate for KS4 and older KS2 school years.
What’s involved in a performance?
First and foremost, these are professional-standard gigs that you would experience in a club or music venue, but taking place inside your school or centre! The music will be presented and explained in an age-appropriate way, and there will be the opportunity to ask questions. Your students do not need to play an instrument or have a prior interest in jazz in order to benefit from the experience: we are keen to reach as large an audience as is practical and appropriate for your school.
What else is being offered as part of the Jazz on Tour experience?
As well as the in-school concert, schools will also receive:
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A prior practical workshop for up to 20 of your more advanced music students, led by a team of Trinity Laban musicians and tutor, which will enable them to perform side-by-side in part of the subsequent concert.
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An interactive resource pack, at least a month in advance, to enable students to engage with and better understand the concert repertoire.
When are they taking place?
In-school performances will be available to book for Thursday mornings across the academic year, from November onwards until Easter. The concert will need to be scheduled to finish by 11:30 at the very latest. The ideal arrival time for set-up is between 09:00 and 09:30.
Workshop timings can be flexible. We recommend that they take place up to five school days before the concert so your students can apply all they learn in the workshop in their performance.
What does a school need in order to host the concert?
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A hall or theatre large enough to accommodate a band of up to 20 musicians and the scale of audience you would like to involve.
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Exclusive access to that space for set-up and soundcheck for at least 60 minutes in advance of the concert start time.
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A decent working and tuned piano (or weighted keyboard), drum kit and – if possible – 10 music stands.
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If possible, a bass amp, guitar amp, and a presenter mic and amp.
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For the prior workshop, this can take place in a music classroom and will need the young people to have access to their instruments.
