AT 15, multi-instrumentalist Chelsea Carmichael has won the chance to play with some of the world’s top jazz musicians.
Chelsea, a pupil at Culcheth High School, has successfully auditioned to join the internationally renowned Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra.
And that means she could soon by playing at concerts and jazz festivals with the band, which often has world-famous musicians as guest soloists.
Chelsea’s interest in music came as something of a surprise to proud Dad Winston, as there was no history of music in the family.
When she came home one day and said she wanted to play the violin he responded by saying: “If I buy you a piano will you play that instead?”
He joked: “I was thinking there was nothing worse than the sound of someone learning to play a violin.”
Chelsea said yes – and was soon engrossed in piano lessons. But she found herself attracted to jazz and took up the saxophone and clarinet as well.
Now the sax is her number one instrument – although her keyboard skills are such that the Wigan outfit swiftly realised that in an emergency she could double up on piano.
Chelsea plays in the Culcheth High School Swing Band and has had much encouragement from her piano teacher, Joyce Wood and a neighbour who is a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, so her musical experience is varied.
She hopes now to study music further in Leeds or Birmingham, where there are specialist jazz degree courses.
