Since 2003 when Artscape initiated the Youth Jazz Festival interest has grown significantly by young jazz musicians eager to be included in the mentoring programme.
It culminates in an extraordinary festival of jazz in the Artscape Theatre, and takes place this year on Saturday 21 June 2008 from 15h00 to 18h00.
With the focus still firmly on development and education of young jazz aspirants, bands are invited to register for auditions with the Artscape Audience Development and Education Department by contacting the project leader Tarnia van Zitters on Tel 021 410-9803, Fax 021 410 9845 or e-mail tarniav@artscape.co.za. The closing date for registration is Monday 17th March 2008. Auditions commence from 24 March 2008.
Prospective bands need to be established and actively performing at clubs or schools in their area. Band members must be 35 years or younger and the criteria to enter is that -
Entrants will be expected to perform any of the Standard Jazz Repertoire eg. Summertime, Autumn Leaves, The Girl from Ipanema, or similar.
Showing a strong understanding of the jazz style and the improvisatory nature of the jazz idiom, the bands are to play these standards in either the swing or bossa nova styles.
Although not a prerequisite, demonstration tapes, CDs, video or DVD material will be welcomed.
The selected bands will receive excellent mentorship with master classes from some of the top young jazz professional musicians in South Africa.
After the first round of auditions, four of the most promising groups will receive on site master class tutoring by members of the panel whose names will be revealed after all the auditions have taken place.
Last year’s panel included Alvin Dyers, Melanie Scholtz, Camillo Lombard, Frank Paco and Lucas Khumalo who also performed at the festival.
Marlene le Roux director of Artscape Audience Development and Education highlights Artscape’s recognition of the importance of nurturing young talent as this project enables them to become empowered musicians, builds on their already skilled base and provides a platform to demonstrate their art in a professional public environment.
Booking for the Artscape Youth Jazz Music opens on 19th May 2008. Tickets cost R30 and will be available from Computicket http://www.computicket.com or Artscape Dial-a-Seat .
Source: Cape Town Tourism
