Jacqui Wicks
Jacqui joined Schwa in 2015 as a guest vocalist for ‘Threshold’ and is now a permanent collaborator.
Having avoided formal musical training, Jacqui counts herself very lucky to have been invited to collaborate with some exceptional composers and musicians. She is a versatile vocalist and has sung with big bands, jazz ensembles, chamber choirs and as a soloist in many different musical settings.
Notable collaborations have included performances at Leeds Lieder Festival, Yorkshire Silent Film Festival and with South Asian arts organisation Manasamitra on their project for 2-7 year olds about the life cycle of bees.
Jacqui was amongst the stable of improvising musicians for the inaugural Soundstripes event curated by artist Alice Bradshaw in Huddersfield 2017.
‘She’s got the voice and the presence to make you sit up and take notice’ - NetRhythms
‘Jacqui is a joy – a wonderfully talented and inspiring live performer, what a voice’ - Andrew Edwards, BBC Radio
‘Mellifluous Vocals, lovely and timeless’ - Yorkshire Evening Post
Her album ‘Vintage’, recorded in 2009 with pianist and arranger Kevin James garnered her much praise from music press. She was invited to perform ‘Vintage’ at Glastonbury Festival’s ‘Jazz and Blues’ stage for its 40th Anniversary.
‘Vintage has a sultry feel to it, with well chosen tracks’ - Fatea Records
‘Vintage is an involving, entertaining listen’ - Yorkshire Evening Post
Jacqui is interested in aleatory and improvisational singing and has worked on a number of performances creating improvised soundtracks and chamber pieces. Most recently she has collaborated with Charlie Wells on Trench Symphony, her suite of compositions about WW1, which premiered at Wakefield Cathedral in Nov 2018.
When she’s not singing with SCHWA she presently performs with Richard Ormrod and Jonny Flockton as one third of the old time beat combo that is ‘THE HARD TIMES ORCHESTRA’, singing songs about mariticide, drug addiction and death. It’s a cheery affair!!!
‘Jazz Zeitgeistian Smiling Knifers’ Kate Fox, Writer
She is also one half of the duo ‘Gudrun’s Sisters’ peforming a selection of bawdy ballads and murderous motets with fiddle player Seonaid Matheson.
‘Gleefully Grubby and Quite Magnificent’ Wrecking Ball Press
As a member of the THE SEX PATELS 2006 – 2011 she performed an eclectic fusion of 70’s punk and Indian classical instruments.
Jacqui is a teacher of voice and ukulele, and has set up ukulele groups and clubs in Ossett, Goole, Barton Upon Humber. She has led large scale community music projects for Musicport Festival, Seafest and Grassington Arts Festival.
From 2011-17 she was creative producer for the award winning Ossett Observer arts project, creating opportunities for people to participate in the arts.