Are you a musician in the early stages of your career? Whether or not you’re working directly in jazz, you’re welcome to join us for an informal meet up where we’ll talk through different parts of building your career as an artist!

Some topics might include funding, touring, building networks, budgets and finding your USP. You control the conversation – bring your questions and we’ll provide the tips and tricks to get your career moving forward.

Join members of the Jazz North team on Friday 13 March from 5-7pm in The Social Hub at The Met for informal career development advice. This is an opportunity for emerging artists working in jazz and jazz adjacent genres to connect and learn more about the Jazz North offer.

What is Jazz North?

Jazz North is the Strategic Development Agency for jazz in the north of England. Founded in 2012, Jazz North is a registered charity with an established national and international reputation in Artist Development, Sector Support and Learning & Participation.

What is The Met?

The Met is a stunning, award winning live music venue noted nationally for its specialist folk music programme. Having undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment completed in 2016, it incorporates two modernised performance spaces, a kitchen and dining space, and Edwin Street Creative Hub which includes a Recording Studio. The Met also supports artists in residence The League of Curiosity, Two Crows Art Studios and Liam Frost.

Location

The Met, Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW

Meet the Jazz North team

Steve Mead

Steve is responsible for developing support programmes, resources and funding advice for the northern jazz workforce, including artists and promoters.

He is also Artistic Director/CEO of Manchester Jazz Festival (still the only recipient of the Europe Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming) and was a founding member of NWJazzworks (2005) and Jazz Promotion Network (JPN) in 2013 (for which he was chair in 2021). He sits on advisory panels for Serious, PRS Foundation and the Greater Manchester Music Commission Steering Group, and is also Vice-President of the Europe Jazz Network.

Heather Spencer

Heather has worked as Jazz North’s Programme Manager since October 2020, largely managing its live talent development programme Northern Line. Alongside this role, Heather is mjf’s Festival Producer responsible for all things operations, finance, organising the piano trail and managing venue partnerships for the festival.

Prior to this, Heather worked in jazz as a promoter, producer and project manager across the north. Her previous work includes co-founder/co-director of DJAZZ, Jazz Development Coordinator at Sage Gateshead and co-programmer of Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender. She was also a previous trustee of Jazz Promotion Network.

Helena Summerfield

A graduate of the GSMD, Helena has extensive experience of working in music education. After leaving teaching she joined the Jazz North team and now works as a Programme Manager with responsibility for Learning and Participation and Sector Support. Helena is passionate about introducing children to jazz and improvisation and her work has been recognised at the 2021 ‘Will Michael Jazz Education Awards’ and at the 2022 ‘Parliamentary Jazz Awards’.

In her free time Helena continues to be an active performer and can be found playing saxophone, flute and clarinet in the Manchester based bands ‘DG Kollective’, ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Mike Hall’s ‘Boplicity’.