Aside from some of the many talented students that were performing there was a whole host of great musicians and teachers playing. The musicians featured in the concert were Laura Jurd, Julian Joseph, Cleveland Watkiss,Tori Freestone, Nikki Iles, Martin Speake, Mark Mondesir, Mick Foster, Nikki Yeoh, Karen Sharp, Tom Hewson, Mark Hodgson, Digby Fairweather Malcolm Earle-Smith, Dominic Ashworth, Orphy Robinson, Chris Batchelor, Nic France, Norma Winstone and Dave Holland!
It was truly a humbling experience to share the stage with those musicians as well as meeting Dave Holland again. Last time I met him I was a bit star struck and never had the balls to tell him how much his playing had inspired me. However I managed to have the guts this time to tell him that he was one of my bass heroes to which he graciously accepted. To put his day as president of NYJC into context, he watched student ensembles perform from 1pm until 6pm, talked to the students after each performance, rehearsed his music, performed it, had a glass of wine with all the musicians afterwards and personally thanked each person for for their contributions that day. AND HE’S 70!! He is truly one of the most gracious, inspiring human beings i’ve ever met. Legend.