Olivia Murphy and Olly Chalk Watch Party Programme

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WATCH: fb.com/townhallsymphonyhall

Following government advice, Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) is closed. But the iconic concert halls cannot be silenced and today we will broadcast our FREE Friday Jazzlines Gig to Facebook, enabling audiences to come together in the safety of a digital space.

“Music has the power to bring people together.

Our Facebook Watch Parties of the FREE Friday Jazzlines Gig ensures that audiences can do just that. Self-isolation does not need to mean people are isolated from their communities and through Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Jazzlines, we’ve built an incredible community with a shared passion for jazz music. Town Hall Symphony Hall is committed to bringing live music to our city and this Facebook Watch Party will provide an opportunity for our friends to continue their discovery of the best of Brum’s musicians.”

NICK REED Chief Executive

“Jazz thrives on challenge and innovation, and I’m immeasurably proud that the Jazzlines Talent Development Programme has risen to these challenging times with this innovative response.

We thank Arts Council England for their support, which has in turn enabled our support of Birmingham’s freelance musicians during these testing times. Town Hall Symphony Hall values the crucial contribution musicians make to the city’s creative life, its economy and the enjoyment of local people and visitors.”

MARY WAKELAM SLOAN Jazz Programme Manager

Olivia Murphy Olivia Murphy is a saxophonist and composer based in Birmingham, UK. After gaining a place at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2015, Olivia had the good fortune to receive tuition from John O’ Gallagher, Mike Williams, Percy Pursglove and Ed Puddick before graduating in 2019.

As a performer, Olivia regularly plays on the Birmingham scene and is a member of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra. Her sextet has also recently played at Birchfield Jazz Festival and The Spotted Dog and in November recorded new material for a 2020 release.

Olivia has always had a passion for composition, becoming the first and only two-time winner of the coveted RBC Jazz Composition Prize (2018 and 2019). In March 2019, Olivia debuted The Virgil Suite for her Almost Big Band (a 13-piece large ensemble featuring Percy Pursglove) at Eastside Jazz Club in Birmingham. Olivia is quickly becoming a sought-after composer and has recently been working on music for Birmingham Jazz Orchestra, Orchestra in The Shape Of A Pear, and her own sextet.

Olly Chalk Olly Chalk was born in Bury St. Edmunds and grew up in a quiet village in rural Suffolk.

At 18, he received a scholarship to study Jazz Piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating four years later with a First Class Honours. His deeply emotive but informed pianism intertwine with his understanding of the subtle balance between structure and freedom. As a composer, he walks the highwire between total freedom and detailed (often through-composed) writing, taking with him a ‘blank canvas’ approach to any and all musical situations.

In January 2018, Olly received the Peter Whittingham Development Award through HMUK to assist with the costs of a tour and album recording. Featuring world-renowned New York saxophonist John O’Gallagher alongside the Olly Chalk Trio, ‘Scathed Citizens’ explores a vivid picture-book of themes: science fiction, mysticism, hope, anxiety and dystopia.

Influenced by David Binney, Pablo Held and Einojuhani Rautaavara, this album showcases daring, emotive compositions and explosive improvising.

Having recently moved to South-East London, Olly is now undertaking an Master of Music (MMus) programme in jazz piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance; his teachers include Kit Downes, Bruno Heinen and Liam Noble. Despite his short time in London, Olly is beginning to establish himself in the capital. Having recently played at King’s Place, London Jazz Festival and Kansas Smitty’s, Olly is looking forward to continuing to make as much music as possible.

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