JESSGILLAM

TRAILBLAZINGTEENAGERBECOMESFIRSTSAXOPHONISTTO

SIGNTODECCACLASSICSINMAJORNEWRECORDDEAL

JessGillam©DominicNicholls

Oneof today’smost electrifying youngmusicians, 19-year-old JessGillam, has signedanexclusive recordingdealwithDeccaClassics–becomingthefirstsaxophoneplayer to jointhehistoric label.Thismajornewdealwillhelpnurturehermusical development as she takes thenext steps in her growing career. Shewill enter the recordingstudioforDeccaforthefirsttimelaterthisyear.HailingfromUlverstoninCumbria,Jessisalreadyblazingatrailinthemusicworldwithheroutstandingtalentandinfectiouspersonality.ShefirstcaughtthepubliceyeduringBBCYoungMusician2016when,attheageof17,shemadehistoryasthefirstsaxophonisttoreachthefinalofthecompetition–wowingaudienceswithherperformanceofMichaelNyman’sWheretheBeeDances.Onsigningtothelabel,JessGillamsaid:“I’msoexcitedtobecomethefirstsaxophonistevertojoinDeccaClassics!The saxophone is such a dynamic, versatile and expressive instrument and I cannot wait to record some of myfavouritemusicandsharemypassionformusicandsaxophonewithasmanypeopleaspossible.”Dr.AlexanderBuhr,ManagingDirectorofDeccaClassics,commented:“Jess isauniquenewvoice intheclassicalmusicworld.Sheisanexceptionallytalentedanddedicatedmusician,andagreatcommunicator.Hercharismaandenergyareundeniable.WearedelightedtowelcomehertotheDeccaClassicsfamilyandlookforwardtopartneringwithheronhermusicaljourneyahead.”

RebeccaAllen,PresidentofDeccaRecords,added:“Jessisspearheadinganewgenerationofyoungfemaleartistswhosecaptivatingpersonalityandcompellingmusicianshipofferabrightfuturetoclassicalmusic.”Lastyear,JessmadeherBBCPromsdebutattheRoyalAlbertHall,andshewillbereturningthisyearfortwomoreperformances:firstly,aspartoftheBBCYoungMusician40thAnniversaryPromon15thJuly,andsecondlyasoneofthestarsoloistsintheever-popularLastNightofthePromson8thSeptember.Jess’ concert career continues togo fromstrength to strength–highlights include regularperformanceswith theManchester Camerata, Royal Northern Sinfonia and BBC Concert Orchestra. She makes her debut with the BBCPhilharmonicOrchestrathisautumnandhasalreadyappearedwiththeRoyalLiverpoolPhilharmonic,BBCNationalOrchestraofWalesandmadeaguestappearancewithJoolsHollandandhisR&BOrchestra.Onthe internationalstage, Jess will be performing with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), L’Auditori Barcelona (Spain),Argovia Philharmonic (Switzerland) and Tampere Philharmonic (Finland). Jess is a champion of new music forsaxophoneandtherewillbeanumberofnewcommissionswrittenforheroverthecomingyears.Hookedonsaxophonefromayoungage,Jessiskeentogivepeoplefromallbackgroundsaccesstoclassicalmusicandhassetupherownconcertseries inUlverston,bringingworld-renownedmusicians fromacrosstheworldtoher hometown. She is also a patron for Awards for Young Musicians, a charity which offers promising youngperformerssupport toprogress theirmusical talent. Jess iscurrentlystudyingatRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusicandwithinternationally-renownedsaxophonistJohnHarle.Jess talks eloquently aboutmusic and has alreadymade a number of high profilemedia appearances in the UKincludingBBCRadio2,BBCRadio3,BBCRadio4(Woman’sHour)andBBCRadio6Music,plusBBCRadioCumbriamadeaprogrammeabouther.ShefeaturedintherecentBBCFourdocumentary,‘BBCYoungMusician:FortyYearsYoung’andisalsothepresenterofabrandnewseriesofBBCYoungMusicianpodcastswhichexplorewhatittakestobeamusicianintoday’sworld.A free spirit in style and character, Jess Gillam is constantly seeking new opportunities for the saxophone and isalwayspushingmusicalboundaries.Assheembarksonabrandnewrecordingcareer,therelookstobenostoppingthisbrightandadventurousyoungmusicianasshereachesthelatestmilestoneinherflourishingcareer.

JessGillam&RebeccaAllen JessGillam&Dr.AlexanderBuhr

www.jessgillamsax.co.uk

JessGillamismanagedbyHarrisonParrott/PolyartsandremainsgratefultotheYoungClassicalArtistsTrustfortheirsupport.SheisaVandorenUKArtist,andbecametheyoungesteverendorseeforYanagisawaSaxophonesaged13.

Formoreinformationpleasecontact:rachel.tregenza@umusic.com/07787821021