SAXOPHONE star Jess Gillam will be among the star names taking to the stage as part of the 2026 Lichfield Festival.
With her electrifying performances and bubbly personality, the musician is one of the most recognisable players of her instrument in the world.
She became the first saxophonist to reach the BBC Young Musician finals in 2016, the youngest soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms and, in 2021 – and still in her early twenties – she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for Services to Music.
Her busy concert career takes her across the world, but she still finds time to host a weekly show The Classical Life on BBC Radio 3 and is a regular face on TV, presenting from the Proms and BBC Young Musician.
Her appearance in Lichfield on 14th July as part of a major UK tour with her seven-piece band will be highly-anticipated – not least by Jess herself.
She said:
"I always aim for a show full of energy and variety. I think there'll be a lot of smiles from the stage, and hopefully the audience.
"We’ll play a big range of music from Duke Ellington’s Caravan, to a brilliant folk infused tune by Rune Sorensen."
In her radio show, she and a guest share their delight in musical discoveries of every kind. So, it’s no surprise to find her own musical inspirations are similarly diverse, from jazz saxophonists and classical musicians to genre-blending singer-songwriters.
Jess grew up in Ulverston, a small market town on the edge of the Lake District. And it was there that she first came across the saxophone.
She said:
"I started playing when I was seven at the Barracudas Carnival Arts Centre in Barrow.
"I tried the alto saxophone and completely fell in love with the sound of it. My first experiences of playing live were in parades and carnivals across the country and I always try and bring some of that energy to the stage."
But despite having already achieved so much, Jess still believes there is more to come.
"There are so many things I would love to improve about my playing and technique, but as far as a career goal goes, I’d absolutely love to tour the world with my band."
Tickets for Jess Gillam and her band at Lichfield Cathedral on 14th July are available from www.lichfieldfestival.org or 01543 306271.
