The Maties Jazz Society are packing their bags to travel to the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival 2022. After 2 years of a hybrid and online festival, the National Arts Festival resumes its live format in Makhanda and is the ultimate celebratory homecoming for audiences and the arts community.

The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival has become one of the most significant jazz development programmes in the country, annually bringing together over 350 students and 40 teachers from diverse backgrounds all over South Africa, with nearly 90 professional jazz musicians and educators. The festival lasts nearly a week, incorporating innovative jazz performance, rehearsals, workshops, lectures, networking and an opportunity for South Africa’s future jazz stars to interact personally and musically with their peers and the country’s top performers. The top jazz students in South Africa audition for places in the Standard Bank National Schools Jazz Band and the National Youth Jazz Band (SBNYJB) and these national bands are conducted by some of South Africa’s leading jazz educators and performers.

This fundraising concert, also in celebration of Youth Day, takes place on Wednesday 15 June at 6pm in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch. Tickets at R100 (regular) and R60 (pensioners, students, and scholars) are available now through Quicket and at the door one hour before the concert. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to help the Maties Jazz Society get to the National Arts Festival!

The Maties Jazz Society performers include Ramon Alexander (director), Kyle Vollenhoven (guitar), Dillon Cornelius (bass guitar), Mark Lynch, Kerwin Albertus (saxophone), Anthonie Janse van Rensburg (flute), Melisizwe Plaatjie (piano) and Stuart Martin (drums). The concert also features The Ramon Alexander Trio with Ramon on piano, Annemie Nel on drums and Shaun Johannes on bass guitar. Other guest artists include Nathaniel Gates and Aubrey Matsila on trombone, Ayden Peters on trumpet, Tristan Lottering on drums.

Please keep in mind that for all live events current restrictions allow for 50% capacity in the Endler Hall and all safety protocols outlined by the University will be followed.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.