What do you get when you combine a big band with jazz and pop music? The answer is Party Big Band.

NOTE! Free for students and youth under 16. Free entry is provided at the door as long as seats are available.

Aalborg Youth Jazz Orchestra (AYJO) explores the party music culture among young people, testing whether a live big band can compete with a DJ on the dance floor. This project merges jazz and pop traditions to see what happens when these genres collide. Through collaboration with renowned conductor, trombonist, and arranger Nikolai Bøgelund, AYJO will have the opportunity to develop their musical skills and creativity.

Nikolai Bøgelund has conducted for Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, DR Big Band, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Nordkraft Big Band, and performed with artists like Lukas Graham, Martin Brygmann, TV-2, LOC, Medina, Alberte, Søs Fenger, and many others. His experience has made him a highly respected musician, arranger, and conductor across Europe.

With Bøgelund’s guidance, the orchestra is uniquely positioned to delve into the jazz and pop traditions, creating a new experience for listeners by blending a large ensemble with pop music. The tonal experience transforms as the big band interprets pop songs typically crafted for smaller ensembles. This project challenges both the conventions of the big band sound and the boundaries of pop music.

Aalborg Youth Jazz Orchestra

Aalborg Youth Jazz Orchestra (AYJO) is Northern Jutland's newly founded youth big band, established in 2021 by Anton Langdahl. The orchestra serves as an elite big band and talent development hub for young musicians in the region. It consists mainly of young musicians from various music schools in Aalborg and surrounding areas, offering them the chance to collaborate across different music environments, ages, and genders.

With 18 public concerts a year, including performances at schools, music venues, and festivals, the orchestra reaches a predominantly young audience, contributing to the national music scene. AYJO is organized under JAZZ9TUS and led by Anton Langdahl, in collaboration with the Royal Danish Academy of Music and MGK NORD. The orchestra's 19 spots are filled annually through an open call for young musicians aged 18-25.

AYJO is supported by Spar Nord Fonden, Region Nordjylland, William Demant Fonden, and Aalborg Municipality.