Prof Byron Wallen
Coming Soon... Jazz Workshop #94 Ear Training with your instrument
Byron has taught in a wide variety of contexts: Primary, Secondary, Further Education, Inclusive, Special Needs (Severe, Profound and Complex Learning and Physical Difficulties; Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties).
He has developed into a fine workshop tutor through many primary and secondary school sessions. He also lectures at Trinity College of Music and provides private tuition at the Royal Academy of Music.
Byron runs his own independent workshops in traditional music of the world, focusing on Indonesian, east and central African traditional music, jazz and composition. During his travels to Zimbabwe, Syria, South Africa and the Czech Republic he led workshops in improvisational techniques and composition.
Byron is currently working on a number of projects in primary, secondary and special schools in association with Creative Partnerships. This is a government initiative that is endeavouring to embed fundamental change in the British education system through creativity.
Commissions & Awards
2007 Nominated for MOBO Awards and BBC Best Band and Best Album; Commission for the Houses of Parliament to launch the exhibition commemorating the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act – Blood Memory.
2006 Commission for the Sage Gateshead International Festival for Solo Dancer, Musician and Visuals – Seven Steps.
2005 Wapping Black Flag Project commissioned by the Jerwood Foundation – performed at Wapping Hydraulic Power Station November 2004 and BBC Radio 3 broadcast 10 September 2005; Tribute to Ken Saro-Wiwa Forest of Dreams – commission from the South Bank Centre; Sheila Hill's Eye to Eye – commissioned by the Arts Council.
2004 Birmingham Arts – for The Trumpet Kings project paying tribute to those legends of the trumpet that have influenced how the trumpet has developed. Performed at the CBSO theatre, Royal Festival Hall stage and the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival; Convocation commissioned by Brighton Jazz Club in association with South East Regional Lottery Scheme; Recorded for Jazz Outreach Project.
2003 BBC Innovation in Jazz award – received for the combination of the Indigo album, Langston Hughes piece and the Duet project with Cleveland Watkiss; Plymouth University commission for shells piece Opening, opening their new Atrium building.
2002 Commissioned by the South Bank Centre to write music for the Langston Hughes Centenary celebration at the Poetry International Festival. The piece was written for a sextet and developed to incorporate poetry written by Byron himself. The event was a collaboration with Wole Soyinka, Kwame Dawes and Yusef Komunyakaa; Garifuna Project commissioned by PRS Foundation; Performed at the Queen's Golden Jubilee June 2002.
2001 Arts Council commissioned piece with choreographer Sheron Wray called Live which was performed at the Clore Theatre in the Royal Opera House with her dance company Jazz Exchange and an expanded Indigo line-up.