Tomorrow’s Warriors and Bank of America launch young artist development partnership
The new ‘Side by Side’ programme will support young jazz musicians through mentoring, rehearsals, workshops and professional performance pathways.
The partnership, launched during Tomorrow’s Warriors’ 35th anniversary year, will support members of the Tomorrow’s Warriors Big Band through a new ‘Side by Side’ development programme. The initiative will give young musicians access to mentoring, rehearsals, workshops and performance opportunities alongside players from the Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Tomorrow’s Warriors’ professional ensemble.
The Nu Civilisation Orchestra has worked with artists including Chaka Khan, Corinne Bailey-Rae and Laura Mvula, and will perform with Ladysmith Black Mambazo this summer.
Over the course of a year, young musicians in the programme will connect with professional players, shadow rehearsals and take part in sight-reading, composition and arrangement workshops. Some participants will also have opportunities to deputise for Nu Civilisation Orchestra musicians in rehearsals, sessions and concerts.
The Tomorrow’s Warriors Big Band includes 17 young musicians selected from the organisation’s free-to-access Young Artist Development Programme, which supports 11 to 25-year-olds at Southbank Centre. The Big Band is described by the organisation as a key training ground and gateway into the profession.
The ensemble performs regularly at major venues and festivals, including Love Supreme, We Out Here Festival, Ronnie Scott’s and the Jazz Cafe. Recent Tomorrow’s Warriors Big Band member Donovan Haffner won the 2026 Jazz FM Breakthrough Act award.
Janine Irons OBE, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Tomorrow’s Warriors, said, ‘This partnership comes at a pivotal time for Tomorrow’s Warriors as we mark 35 years of championing excellence, widening access and challenging inequity in the music industry.
‘Bank of America’s support strengthens our ability to provide a progression pathway for the incredible young musicians in our Big Band to develop into professional musicians in our world class professional ensemble Nu Civilisation Orchestra.
‘Through this partnership, we will see the first cohort of musicians flourish in real world learning, developing the vision for their professional futures. Tomorrow’s Warriors champions young musicians with extraordinary talent – regardless of race, gender or background – to build the skills, confidence, agency and connections that they need to thrive.’
Fernando Vicario, UK Country Executive at Bank of America, said, ‘We believe talent should never be limited by background. We’re honoured to support Tomorrow’s Warriors in creating pathways for exceptional young musicians to develop the skills, confidence and experience to shape their futures and reach new audiences.
‘Tomorrow’s Warriors is changing lives through music, and we look forward to seeing these talented young people excel.’
The partnership also precedes a series of Tomorrow’s Warriors Big Band performances this year, including appearances at Foyles on 31 July, Southbank Centre on 2 August, Kings Cross Summer Sounds on 16 August, We Out Here Festival on 21–22 August, the Jazz Café on 2 October and Pizza Express on 15 November.