Super exciting news! Recently I met the truly inspirational bassist Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie’s bass player from 1995-2016) for a BBC Radio 4 programme called Only Artists. It is broadcasted Monday 9 March and is available to listen again here.”

“Gail is an incredible musician who has worked with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Bowie, Tears for Fears and is currently touring with Lenny Kravitz. It was amazing to meet Gail, she is such a humble person with an insanely powerful musical voice.”

“It’s out there! I absolutely loved presenting my first ever radio show – ‘This Classical Life’ – on Saturday 6 April. It will be a weekly show on BBC Radio 3 at 12.30pm every Saturday. If you missed the first episode with drummer and television composer Ollie Howell, it’s available on BBC Sounds!”

“Our choices include Dvorak’s New World Symphony, a film score by Quincy Jones, a mesmerising piano miniature by Nadia Boulanger, and some classic Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Look out for some of my future guests including pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, double bassist Sam Becker, and former ‘BBC Introducing’ pianist and sound artist Belle Chen. ‘This Classical Life’ is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds and you can visit the show’s page here“.

“I really hope you enjoy it”.

A revamped Saturday schedule showcases the distinctive BBC Radio 3 musical offering and features a brand new weekly programme This Classical Life, fronted by rising star saxophonist Jess Gillam, who recently wowed audiences at the Baftas and was the highlight of the Last Night Of The BBC Proms in 2018.

The 20 year-old former BBC Young Musician finalist – who will be the youngest presenter on the station – will be joined each week by her contemporaries to select and discuss their favourite pieces from across the musical spectrum, giving an insight into the musical influences on young performers.

Confirmed guests include 22 year-old pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, double bassist Sam Becker, former BBC Introducing pianist and sound artist Belle Chen, and film and television composer Ollie Howell. This Classical Life will immediately precede Radio 3’s popular Saturday lunchtime programme Inside Music, giving audiences the unique opportunity to hear from different musicians on Radio 3 every Saturday, all sharing their own insights and perspectives on their favourite music. The first episode of This Classical Life will air on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday 6 April and will be available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam says: “I’m so excited to be joining BBC Radio 3 as the presenter of This Classical Life. Music is such a huge part of my life, and I can’t wait to share all my latest and greatest discoveries with fellow musicians who will be joining me on the show, as well as with listeners at home.”

BBC Young Musician – The Podcast

19-year old Jess Gillam has taken the classical music world by storm since being the first saxophonist to reach the final of BBC Young Musician in 2016. In this series of six podcasts (published weekly from Friday 6th April to coincide with the TV broadcasts) she’s joined by two of her friends and musical partners, pianist Zeynep Ozcusa and bass player Sam Becker, to explore just what it takes to make a life in music. They’ll be joined by special guests, including former Young Musicians winners Nicola Bennedetti and Sheku-Kanneh Mason, to talk about everything from stage fright and memorising music, to choosing what to wear on stage.