Projects and Plans
Recording Psalm 65 by Cecilia McDowall
23 June 2023
Cecilia writes beautifully for trumpet, treating it like the human voice – with lyricism, agility and colour. She has written a wealth of repertoire for brass and I am delighted to be recording a new work by Cecilia this Summer.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
An evocative setting of Psalm 65 by composer Cecilia McDowall for solo trumpet, organ and SATB choir is due to be recorded this Summer for general release with the Whitehall Choir and their conductor Joanna Tomlinson.
Summer 2023: A Crown of Glory
20 May 2023
Bella Tromba join the West London Chorus and their conductor for a splendid evening of anthems, fanfares and flourishes.
I am especially delighted by the programme for this concert which includes choral masterpieces Parry I was Glad and Walton Te Deum with full brass and organ alongside chamber music by Britten, Bruckner and Holst.
Saturday 1st July 7.30pm
St Paul's Grove Park
Music for solo trumpet and choir by Weir, Poston and Vaughan Williams
April 2023
Hilary Campbell and the Bristol Chorale present an evening of wonder in Bristol's majestic Cathedral on 24 June 2023.
I love discovering new music and I am delighted the programme will be recorded for general release in the Autumn too.
#TeamTrumpet
Jo tutors the trumpeters of the National Children's Orchestra
14 August 2022
Diving into epic film scores by John Williams, William Walton and Alan Silvestri, the National Children’s Orchestra trumpeters had plenty to do this Summer.
In a fun packed week the young musicians worked intensely, pulling 8 hours of trumpeting a day in trumpet sectionals with Jo Harris, brass coaching with Phil Goodwin and orchestral rehearsals under the inspiring baton of Caroline Hobbs-Smith.
Culminating in a final concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre, the National Children’s Orchestra’s energetic performance left staff and parents in awe of the skill of these young players.
Bella Tromba Live on BBC Radio 3
February 11, 2023
Bella Tromba present European Premiere of Unconditional Love by Howard Goodall
A stunning, deeply felt new work for choir, brass, organ and piano. Bella Tromba joined the BBC Singers at Milton Court for a concert conducted by Howard Goodall.
Listen from 1:21:50 for Howard Goodall's introduction to the music and from 1:29:40 for the performance, broadcast live.
Stravinsky Fanfare for a New Theatre recording released by The Facade Ensemble
February 11, 2023
Performed to camera during lockdown, Jo Harris was joined by trumpeter Neil Brough for a performance of the virtuosic fanfare composed by Stravinsky in 1964.
The Facade Ensemble champions modernist composers who composed for chamber ensembles.
Alina Orchestra Launched
30 December 2021
Newly formed Alina Orchestra aims to boost mental health in the community through musical activities and wellbeing.
I was delighted to perform with Alina Orchestra in 2021. We performed a community concert, visited four community day centres and two ‘temporary’ homes (hotels) for refugees in the space of just two weeks. It was brilliant to see the immediate impact of the music as the audience smiled along with us. There are more events planned for 2022, it’s a new band worth watching!
Florence Price UK Premiere
Suite for Brasses and Piano
February 11, 2023
Over a year ago I was intrigued to find a record of an octet for brass and piano written by American composer Florence Price. Jumping at the chance of chamber music for brass, I set about tracking down this unpublished mystery work! Turns out it is an outstanding piece of music - joyous, celebratory and touching. Hear it for the first time in Peckham Rye, London!
Saturday 26 June 11.30am
Rye Lane Chapel, Peckham Rye
Free Entry
Email jo@joharrismusic.com. for further information
Five Festive Family Shows
December 20 2021
From Every Valley to a Winter Wonderland on a Sleigh Ride it was a joy to sprinkle some magical musical snowflakes on a very eager audience.
Miaomiao’s hugely successful Bach to Baby series packed in appreciative audiences this year and the large airy community churches they use proved the perfect place for families to spread out, relax and hear live music. This year I was delighted to play with pianist Alexandra Vaduva in five concerts across London. I can’t wait to work with Alexandra and Bach to Baby again!
Live Concerts Announced for The Trumpet Shall Sound series
February 11, 2023
Chamber group Bella Tromba will perform a concert of imaginative music penned by female composers. Featuring evocative spirituals by Margaret Bonds, pastoral English music by Imogen Holst and romantic waltzes by Clara Schumann this concert is perfect for a Sunday afternoon with family and friends.
Sunday 20 June 2pm Tickets £13/£15 including tea/coffee on arrival.
New repertoire search leads to pioneering concert series
30 March 2021
Jo has launched a new concert series with backing from:
Arts Council England,
RVW Trust, The Finzi Trust,
Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Ralph Vaughan William’s Charitable Trust.
The new concert series called The Trumpet Shall Sound reflects Jo’s passion for introducing audiences to new chamber music.
The Trumpet Shall Sound will feature music by Betsy Jolas, Camille Pepin, Florence Price, Imogen Holst, Margaret Bonds, Ralph Vaughan William’s and Undine Smith Moore.
Music Video release of 'enter Ghost' by Judith Bingham OBE
20 February 2021
Jo has released a solo music video of music by Judith Bingham OBE. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the project took place at Tilbury Fort, an English Heritage site in Essex.
Photography and Video, Paul Treacy
Producer, Rosanna Goodall
Sound Engineer, Chris Kalcov
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enter Ghost film featured by Totally Thames
August 26 "021
Judith Bingham's solo trumpet work was recorded for film at English Heritage site Tilbury Fort, Essex in 2021.
Overlooking the mighty river, the battlements and underground tunnels were the perfect location for Paul Treacy's stunning film.
The film will be showcased throughout September by Thames Festival Trust .
Jo announced as Guest Speaker for Women in Brass event
1 March 2021
SWAP’ra Makes Space is a series of targeted gatherings designed to focus on the challenges women face within their own disciplines.
The aim is to foster a feeling of community and peer-to-peer support, offering time and space to exchange ideas and resources to leave you feeling positive, connected, and empowered.
10 October 2021
Inspired by poetry, stories and faith this eclectic programme from Jo Harris presents classical music at its finest – unique, inspirational and up close.
From French impressionism to English pastoral, composers Camille Pépin and Ralph Vaughan Williams reacted to the challenging times they faced. Vaughan Williams brought communities together in a War-torn Britain with his Household Music, designed to be played in the home by any number of musicians. In the Summer of 2020 the composer Camille Pépin spent a sleepless locked down night in her Paris apartment. Looking down on the empty streets from her window, she found hope in the dawning of a new day.
Best known for her ballet music, Elizabeth Maconchy’s reflective cello solo is a well kept secret but a fine example of her lyrical and expressive writing. Bold and distinctive, Betsy Jolas’s flamboyant quartet for trumpet and strings experiments with new colours balancing muted trumpet with strings that are struck and tapped.
UK PREMIERE Camille Pepin (b.1990) Avant les clartés de l’aurore (2020) 9’
Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 -1994) Narration for solo cello (1984) 8’
Betsy Jolas (b 1926) Quatuor VII (Afterthoughts) (2018) 10’
Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) Household Music (1943) 16’
Three Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes
Crug-y-bar (Fantasia)
St Denio (Scherzo)
Aberystwyth (Variations)
This concert was made possible with generous support from The Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust and the Arts Council for England National Lottery Project Grant.