UKZN YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

UKZN YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) presents the UKZN Youth Music Festival at UKZN's Howard College campus from May 18 to 23.

The purpose of this festival is to promote a lifelong engagement with music through a structured programme of performances and educational opportunities for UKZN students, the broader community and young musicians at local schools. With an immediate goal to encourage an appreciation for, and the study of, jazz and popular music in KwaZulu-Natal, this festival brings opportunity for sharing musical knowledge and skills in a variety of collaborative music making activities. The festival also aims to highlight the need to advocate for broader music education in schools in the province.

The festival line-up is as follows:

May 18 at 18h00: (CJPM) in collaboration with Young Guns (a new initiative to encourage, uncover and provide professional platforms for new school going music talent) features two exciting, young high school bands, Toxic Candy and The Sunshine. Sharing the stage with these and other bands will be young solo artists, UKZN Jazz & Popular Music Ensembles followed by local band Sounds Good keeping it fresh with Electro, Neo, Soul and RnB collections. The headliner for the evening is Durban-based eclectic band, Gangs of Ballet, whose recently released self-titled EP is currently rocking the charts.

May 21: A music workshop facilitated by UKZN Music lecturers Neil Gonsalves and Debbie Mari will introduce young musicians to the idea of improvisation and accompaniment/ensemble playing through exploring one, two and three chord song forms. Later the same evening, there will be a concert featuring the UKZN Big Band, UKZN Voices (close-harmony jazz vocal group), UKZN Jazz & Popular Music Ensembles and the Umlazi-based UC Jazz Ensemble. Top of the line-up will be the newgroove-based, electric four-piece instrumental outfit The Sir Walrus Band.

May 22 at 18h00: International element to the festival with a concert featuring Paraguay Primeval led by Canadian based pianist and composer Carol Ann Weaver. Paraguay Primeval features acclaimed vocalist Rebecca Campbell and Meaghan McCracken (flute). The band will also include some Durban guests in their line-up as they chronicle the experiences of Paraguay's Chaco and Germanic Mennonite immigrants. Sharing the stage for this concert will be selected UKZN Music Ensembles. Concert starts at

May 23 at 18h00: The final concert features senior students from the UKZN Jazz Studies programme under the guidance of Durban pianist and UKZN Music lecturer Susan Barry.

Tickets for all concerts R30 (R10 scholars and students) available at the door. More information on 031 260 3385.