Despite a demanding tour schedule that’s taken him from South America to, later this year, Paris, Singapore and Sydney, Island of Culture youth ambassador Jason Evans, principal trumpet with the Philharmonia Orchestra, found time to return home at the end of October to perform with his fellow Inner City Brass players at Peel Cathedral and give a brass masterclass.
At 22, Jason is one of the youngest principal trumpets in the UK and, as well as touring, is teaching in his role as a Royal Academy of Music associate professor of trumpet.
After a packed musical programme for the concert in Peel Cathedral on Saturday October 25th Jason was at St Ninian’s Lower School, Onchan early next morning, setting up for the masterclass in which he would be joined by his fellow Inner City Brass colleagues. The following day would see him heading for Paris, later Wales then Greece.
As much as he loves playing and touring - although he confesses his two ‘bruised and battered after 14 years’ trumpets suffer from air travel and high altitudes (he wasn’t long back from Mexico City and Colombia) – he also finds teaching hugely rewarding. ‘What’s great is when you’ve been working with a student for a while and then, one day, it all clicks into place with them and everything works. When you’re teaching, to have that feedback is so important.’
Much of his teaching is done in London. ‘With London being such a diverse city there are a lot of kids who aren’t exposed to this type of music and have never even seen a brass instrument. That’s such a contrast to here in the Isle of Man which has such a vibrant musical scene that young people can get into.’
Through performing around the world - New York’s Carnegie Hall is beckoning again next year - he’s become something of an expert on audience reaction. ‘In Greece they really go for it and are fantastically appreciative; in Germany they all stand up at the start of a concert in welcome, which is nice; but recently in Moscow when we played a work by Shostakovich the audience went absolutely wild.
‘It’s been great being able to come back to the Isle of Man, even though it’s only for a few days. The Peel Cathedral concert went really well. All of us enjoyed playing there and when we’re enjoying ourselves performing then that transfers to the audience and makes for a great evening.’
Inspired by his father, Rodney, Jason took up the trumpet aged six. When he was 11 he went to Manchester to study at Chetham’s School of Music then the Royal Academy of Music where his tutor, head of brass Mark David, gave him two pieces of straightforward advice that have never left him and which he now shares with aspiring musicians. ‘The first was: “If you want it bad enough, go and do it” and the second one, which I adapt a little depending on the students I’m working with, was “Don’t mess it up”’.
Island of Culture events director Michael Lees said: ‘As our year of celebrations draws to a close it has been truly heartwarming to have seen our youth cultural ambassadors doing what they do so amazingly well – delighting audiences, inspiring young people and sharing their unique talents with us all.
‘As with Lloyd Mayor and Davy Knowles Jason has been a superb youth ambassador possessed of a natural charm and ability, both as an artist and a teacher, and capable of engaging with consummate ease with every kind of audience.
‘He and his Inner City Brass colleagues provided us with two outstanding musical experiences and on behalf of all us at Island of Culture and the Isle of Man Arts Council I extend sincere thanks to them and wish Jason every success in his career, which we will be following with great interest as it is clearly very much in the ascendant.’
Photo - Jason Evans playing in Peel Cathedral. Picture Steve Babb.
