The much anticipated Artscape Youth Jazz Festival Concert will be broadcast on 23 October at 18:00 – 20:00 on Fine Music Radio 101.3fm, and streamed on 26 October at 10:00am on the Artscape You Tube Channel.
Dozens of talented young musicians from across the Western Cape responded to the call to submit online audition videos for this year’s edition of the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival Concert. We are thus pleased to announce that the jazz Masterclasses were open to every artist who had auditioned.
“Everyone who auditioned stood out in terms of their playing ability, their energy and style,” says the festival’s musical director, Amanda Tiffin. “The level of playing and performance was outstanding, so it was very difficult to choose only a few.”
The Masterclasses took place online between 14 to 19 September. It comprised of a class for each instrument given by industry professionals, plus several workshops about the business of music.
Those selected for the Performance Recordings in October also participated in song writing sessions, rehearsals and the final performance. They were mentored through this process by Tiffin and a team of jazz industry professionals.
The Artscape Youth Jazz Festival was launched in 2003 with the aim of democratising the arts in South Africa, and has since grown to accommodate the enormous interest and exceptional talent of young jazz musicians in the Western Cape.
Says Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux: “The focus of the programme has remained dedicated to providing skills development within the Jazz genre. This enables young Jazz musicians to take the experience forward into their careers and educate others in the process.”
This year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of a live audition, aspiring participants were required to submit an audition video via online platforms, with the following criteria:
- Age restriction: 27 years old in the year of participation
- Scholars and informal music students encouraged to audition
- Music ‘literacy’ not essential. Candidates who play only by ear welcomed
- Candidates must reside in Western Cape
- A maximum of two 3-4 min videos to be submitted
- Candidates to submit 2 songs/standards. Any jazz tune or standard acceptable.
2020 Performers
- Chante Phillips – Drums – 26 Years Old from Athlone
- Kara Snethlage – Guitar – 24 Years Old from Sunningdale
- Aphiwe Faleni – Vocals – 19 Years old from Nyanga
- Joshua Barnes – Vocals – 24 Years old from Milnerton Rural
- Lebohang Banda – Vocals – 27 Years old from Gugulethu
- Lerato Skhosana – Piano – 23 Years old from Table View
- Lezaam Beets – Trombonee – 19 Years old from Plumstead
- Manasse Kitanda – Guitar – 24 Years old from Cravenby
- Nick Ford – Bass – 17 Years old from Newlands
- Robin Castle – Vocals – 21 Years old from Ottery
- Dillon Manley – Tenor Saxophone – 19 Years old from Pinelands
- Tefo Mahola – Drums – 26 Years old from Gugulethu
- Joshua Nemaire – Bass Guitar – 20 Years old from Rosebank
- Joshua Wheatley – Piano – 19 Years old from Southfield
Artscape YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY_8eZk9OyJoaLJQBbF2-NQ