Music fans are in for a treat this weekend. Artscape will be presenting the 12th Youth Jazz Festival on Friday, June 13, with festivities kicking off at 7.30pm. Taking place in the Artscape Theatre, the Festival will feature eight young jazz musicians whose exceptional talent and achievements have been recognised.
Artscape will be celebrating South Africa’s Democracy on the day with hundreds of youths who were born just before or during the last 20 years. They will be performing in many multicultural events that include Hip Hop, Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Vocal and Instrumental Music, Classics and Jazz, often accompanied by icons from the various industries.
The show is directed by celebrated musicians and educators Amanda Tiffin and Camillo Lombard, who will form a jazz ensemble to accompany the soloists with bass player Peter Ndlala and drummer Mornay Hoffmeester.
Marlene le Roux, director of Artscape Audience Development and Education explains that each year the festival is designed around a mentorship programmes firmly structured on development and education. Some of the 2014 soloists have participated in the previous challenging and rewarding programmes.
“Artscape acknowledges the mentors in the past who passionately contributed to the success and dignity of the young musicians. Many are currently performing successfully on South African and international stages. Dreams do come true,” says Le Roux.
The Youth Jazz programme was initiated by Artscape in recognition of the amount of raw talent nationally, particularly in Cape Town, where there is a Jazz tradition. The mentorship programme for bands began in 2005. After auditions musicians received master classes with acclaimed jazz icons from the Western Cape. The programme prepared them for the challenging arts arena they had entered and gave them respect for their role models who paved the way for them. In recent years the mentorship was concentrated on soloists.
Amongst the jazz icons that contributed their expertise were: Melanie Scholtz, Keith Tabisher, Kevin Gibson, George Werner, Kevin Gibson, Frank Paco, Lucas Khumalo, Andrew Lilley, Wesley Rustin, Alvin Dyers, Errol Dyers and the late Alex van Heerden.
The eight young soloists:
Amy Campbell (22) – Vocals
In her 16 years of performing, Campbell has won many accolades and prizes and performed all over the world. She is a student at the South African College of Music at UCT where she studies jazz performance, majoring in voice and piano. She has performed all over the world as far as Italy, Australia and New York. In the last few years she has released a single ‘Just Like That’, which is available on iTunes.
Siya Charles (23) – Trombone
Charles is currently doing her Masters in Music specializing in Jazz Trombone Performance at the South African College of Music at UCT. She has worked with Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sephuma, Lira, Hugh Masekela, Freshlyground and Simphiwe Dana. She is now planning to do her Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Matthew Ehrenreich (21) – Saxophone
Ehrenreich is currently in his third year of Jazz Performance studies at the South African College of Music. He performs regularly in and around Cape Town at various venues alongside the likes of Zayne Adams, JAG, Peaches and Herb, and Alistair Izobel. Ehrenreich also appeared in the Kramer/Peterson stage musical, ‘Kat ‘n The Kings’.
Robin Fassie-Kock (21) – Trumpet
Fassie-Kock’s career began with the Cape Minstrels. In his final year of school he was chosen to be a member of the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival Schools’ Band in Grahamstown. The same year he made his first appearance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and received a scholarship to study Jazz at the South African College of Music.
Ndumiso Manana (22) – Vocals
Manana is a 3rd year student currently studying a BMus degree in Jazz Performance at the South African College of Music. He started singing at the age of eight years, attending the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School. He often performs with the UCT big band and is a key member of the UCT Jazz Voices ensemble.
Zoe Palesa Modiga (20) – Vocals
Modiga is currently in her 3rd year at the South African College of Music, majoring in Jazz Vocal Performance. She has already appeared on numerous National festival stages, including Aardklop, Rocking the Daisies and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival. She has featured in Frank Paco’s Art Ensemble.
Candice Thornton (23) – Vocals
Thornton won the Open Mic competition at GrandWest in 2012 and her song ‘Reason to Smile’ that she features with Jonathan Rubain has hit number 1 on the top 10 chart and is currently on the top 30 radio chart. She is currently working on releasing a single and EP/album later this year.
Mark Williams (27) – Guitar
Regarded as a Jazz gem of Cape Town, Williams’ guitar has taken him around the world, with performances in 14 countries including the UK, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Malawi and The Seychelles. At the age of 23 he opened for Grammy Award winning star Jonathan Butler, and recently featured as lead guitarist in ‘Kat and The Kings.’
* The show is suitable for the entire family.
Tickets cost R80 and can be booked via Computicket, or through Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.
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