Jess Gillam Wows at Last Night of the Proms

10/9/2018

HarrisonParrott and Polyarts artist Jess Gillam was ​“the indisputed highlight of the Last Night of the Proms”. Her performance of Milhaud’s Scaramouche with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis, brought the Royal Albert Hall to its feet and has been widely praised by viewers and Prommers alike. She also joined baritone Gerald Finley for World War II Song Sequence arranged by Anne Dudley. 

Before heading to the hall, Jess performed at Proms in the Park where she played Michael Nyman’s If with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Richard Balcombe. There were more than 40,000 people at the park, and the performance was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and as part of the BBC One coverage of the night.

Jess released Scaramouche and If as her debut tracks with Decca Classics on Friday, which peaked at number 1 and 2 respectively in the classical iTunes chart over the weekend.

“Jess Gillam, the saxophonist from the Lake District, lighting up the hall with her seemingly effortless virtuosity and limitless expressiveness. Milhaud’s jazzy Scaramouche (1937 – 9) couldn’t have been a better choice. Gillam is all set for stardom: to listen is to love her.”

(Artsdesk)

“Saxophonist Jess Gillam steals the show.” /// ​“She may only be 20 years old, but saxophonist Jess Gillam was the indisputable highlight of the Last Night of the Proms.”

BBC News

“Jess Gillam…whirled through Milhaud’s Scaramouche, her outfit as dazzling as her fingerwork.”

The Times