The Band  relies heavily on public support for its continued existence.

The Band was granted  lottery money for  the purchase of amplification and instruments, and the Foundation for Sports and Arts for the purchase of a music library.

In addition to having to fund the difference between grant and costs of these item, the Band needs to fund  remaining  running costs of  about £2500 per year.

To help meet these expenses a small admission fee is charged for the performance on a Monday night.

The members of the Band do not receive any payment for  performances at the CIYMS.

The money raised by ticket sales and at the door is spent on professional musical assistance  and music workshops to improve the standard of our performances and to meet these other costs.

As well as the recording of an hour long programme recorded at the BBC devoted to the band, the BJO Big Band has also appeared at a large number of Community and Jazz Festival events.  Regular workshops with visiting international jazz educationalists such as Ian McDougal, Scott Stroman and Hugh Fraser are now held to encourage excellence in band members individual and section playing.

In addition the Big Band has played with jazz artists of international reputation including Campbell Burnap, Digby Fairweather, Sonny Fortune, Lee Konitz, George Masso, Ken Peplowski, Spike Robinson, Bobby Shew, Scott Stroman and Bob Wilber.

A welcome development, helped by sponsorship and Arts grant funding, is the regular presentation of international jazz artists playing with the Band at the CIYMS. In the 1st half of 1999 we presented Ken Peplowski and Scott Hamilton. A continuing programme of these events is planned, and the BJO is looking forward to a visit by Rande Sanke in November as part of the Belfast Festival at Queens. These events have been greeted enthusiastically by our audience and supporters, as well as  having  considerable benefits for the BJO Big Band members in the quest for jazz excellence.