| Variations of Name | William Michael Allingham Ashton |
| Biography | Bill Ashton OBE is a British saxophonist and composer, best known for co-founding the London Schools Orchestra, now the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), of which he is Musical Director.
From 1955-57 Ashton was educated at Rossall School which soon developed into a career in the Royal Air Force doing National Service, before he then went to Oxford University in 1957, where he first began playing jazz professionally at functions and competitions, founding the Oxford University Big Band. On leaving university in 1960, he went to France and worked as a professional musician in the American army bases for about nine months. Returning to London, he did supply teaching, mostly French, and started to join various blues bands. After working with Red Bludds Bluesicians, he founded what became NYJO with Pat Evans and Mike Kershaw in 1965.
Ashton is highly regarded as an indefatigable promoter of British jazz talent, by organising tours, producing recordings, encouraging established players to collaborate with the band and publishing the works of young jazz composers. |