THE UNITED WOMEN'S ORCHESTRA

The bandleaders: Hazel Leach (conductor, composer)

"... I suppose you could assume that my conservatorium training in both England and Holland would have predestined me for a commercial career in music. I did spend a few years writing commercial arrangements and educational pieces, which provided me with a solid technical grounding and the fluency necessary for deadline-work. However, my work as lecturer at the conservatorium has provided a welcome financial freedom, and with it the artistic freedom to write whatever I like. Not only that, of course..my students are young and keep me informed about newer music, and the enforced discipline of a permanent analytical approach towards music is a good stimulus.
Working with the UWO is a luxury - I feel like a kid in a sweetshop. I like to experiment with musical structures which are flexible enough to allow for improvisation without losing the structural lines, and the sheer size of a big band provides endless possibilities. It's nice to work with good soloists who can add their own voice to the music- my personal statement becomes a collective one, and the whole is often greater than the sum.I'm also fascinated by the emotional content of music (the "goose-pimple factor") and its' relationship with the technical elements: the "greats" like Bach, Stravinsky, Gil Evans and Kenny Wheeler (to name but a few) can make your hair stand on end with music written within nearly mathematical structures..."

Recent bigband compositions: A Sting in the Tale. Vocals & BB 1994 Holy Jeez. 1994 Touchstone. 1994 Moonlight Flit. 1994 The Tulip Wonder. 1995 Mabel's Birthday. 1995 Tiebreak. For solo trombone & BB.1996 Siringo Road. Solo alto sax & BB.1996 Torch Song. Guitar & BB.1997 Take IV. 1997 Self-Portrait. Vocals & BB.1997 A la Mode 1998 Double Trouble: Suite for Bigband 1999 Sweet for Evie. (for Evie Ellington) 1999 Cerasarda.  2000. El Greco    2002 Sleepers. Vocals & BB 2006 A Traveller's Tale. Vocals & BB 2006 Keep Moving. Vocals & BB 2006 Silvergreen. 2007

Prizes and awards.

"A la Mode" was awarded  a "Menzione Speciale" in the "Scrivere in Jazz"  composition concours in Sardinia 1998
"Mabel's Birthday" was a prizewinner in the Hemphill Awards 2000 (Jazz Composers Alliance, USA)"Cerasarda" won 1st prize in the "Scrivere in Jazz" competition 2000