Welcome to our latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ with host and producer Hannah Horton, with our theme tune Surfing Thermals from our host, Hannah too! In this episode, host Hannah Horton welcomes Helena Jane Summerfield!

Our podcasts are named as one of the Top 15 Women In Media Podcasts on the web by Feedspot and you can also find our podcasts at number 9 in the top 60 Best Jazz Podcasts in FeedSpot!

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Helena Summerfield is the Learning and Participation project manager at Jazz North the jazz talent development agency for the North of England. After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 1997, saxophonist Helena has worked in a variety of mainstream and inclusive music education settings. She was the lead jazz tutor at Trafford Music Service when they received the 2021 ‘Will Michael Jazz Education Award’ and awarded 'Jazz Educator of the Year' at the 2022 ‘Parliamentary Jazz Awards’ in recognition of her work on ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’. Helena has also worked as the interim programme manager for the National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC) In her role as Learning and Participation project manager for Jazz North Helena is currently working to create new teaching resources to encourage beginner pupils (and their teachers!) to engage with jazz and improvisation. As a performer Helena plays saxophone and flute in a number of Manchester based bands. She has co-created 3 interactive children’s shows that have been successfully performed around the Northwest of England. Upcoming performances – ‘Animal Fantasia’ for ‘Make Create Feel Great’ at St. Benedict’s School, Ealing on 11th April 2024 ‘There once was a bird’ and ‘HMS Syncopation’ interactive children’s shows at Manchester Jazz Festival – 18th May 2024

Helena links here

Hannah Horton is a British Female Jazz Saxophonist whose music is rooted in jazz, folk and funk. She has performed with many great jazz artists including Ian Shaw, Amy Winehouse, John Etheridge, Tina May, Georgia Mancio, Polly Gibbons, Natalie Williams, Esther Bennett and Irene Serra; and at venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St, The 606, The Pheasantry, Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican. She has also toured in Europe and USA with her own and other groups. Her latest album has been going down a storm across the world. “Hannah makes the big beast of a baritone sax sound like an angel” – Ian Shaw. Hannah Horton website