Rory Evans - Assistant Project Officer

Hi, I'm Rory, I have been interested in music from the age of 8, when I picked up a cornet for the first time. It was something that I quickly fell in love with, and I have continued to play cornet/trumpet ever since. I enjoy playing in a variety of styles and performed with loads of ensembles whilst studying music at the University of Sheffield. I am now enjoying freelance gigging up and down the country with bands such as Jukebox Band, New York Brass Band, The Rolling Keys and have also set up my own big band, Double Time Jazz Orchestra! My main style of playing is jazz music, especially in big bands/swing bands. I play with a variety of big bands in South Yorkshire such as Keith Peters Big Band and Take Two Big Band and also play in Leeds with Big Bands such as The Northern Swing Orchestra. I love jazz improvisation and expressing myself through music!

I am the ensemble director for Sheffield Youth Big Band. I’m passionate about helping our young musicians achieve their potential and bringing out some scintillating big band playing, as well as just playing some really cool charts. Please email me if your young musician would like to join the band, we are looking to grow our numbers at the moment!

On top of this, I am also Sheffield Music Hub’s Connect mentor for Young Sounds UK. This involves mentoring for the young people on the Connect Programme as well as admin support for our Connector Rachel Greene.

I strongly believe in providing the very best musical opportunities for children and young people and love working in the Sheffield Music Hub projects team. Whether it be running the social media, organising youth voice, or planning exciting events for our young people I love working in music education.

Some things about me…

• Favourite song/piece of music – Strasbourg St Denis by Roy Hargrove
• Favourite thing to do outside of work – it’s a bit predictable, but it does have to have to be playing my trumpet!
• Favourite food – some pub grub
• Favourite place in Sheffield – Bole Hills when the sun is setting
• One thing about me that would surprise you to know – I can break dance