Jo Stephenson

Jo started playing baritone in 2005 with Gretton Silver Band. She started her musical life on clarinet, and after having had a few "blows" on her brother Simon's cornet, she was invited to join Gretton Silver Band on cornet during an interval performance by the Kettering Music and Performing Arts Centre. The baritone soon "discovered" her however, and she quickly found herself performing on the concert stage with Gretton on baritone.

She was quickly recruited by the top youth band, Youth Brass 2000, and very soon rose to the position of principal baritone. Studying at the time under Bradley Turnbull of the Northants County Music Service, she successfully auditioned for the County Youth Brass Band, and until leaving for university occupied the Principal Baritone seat here. In 2007, Jo successfully auditioned and joined the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, and has been attending their courses and concerts until she started university in 2009. She was appointed co-principal baritone at their summer course in 2009. Until April 2009, Jo was principal Baritone for the 1st section band, Foresters Brass 2000, when she moved to Virtuosi GUS. In 2007, Jo was the Oundle Young Musician of the Year.

Jo is also an accomplished clarinettist and tenor sax player, and played clarinet in the Northants County Youth Concert Band. She is currently attending Leicester University where she is studying geology.