About Us

The Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra is unique in Scotland. It was founded in 1976 by the energetic, award-winning jazz musician and composer Richard Michael OBE. Over the years he has introduced hundreds of youngsters between the ages 8-24 to the particular musical freedom that jazz with its emphasis on improvisation offers.

Philosophy

Following his philosophy that “Mistakes are cool!” and that FYJO rehearsals are where it’s OK to get it wrong, Richard has given his young musicians the opportunity to grow as individuals as well as becoming confident instrumentalists. One mark of the success of his inspirational teaching is that band members are regularly accepted onto the jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire for Scotland in Glasgow.