A feast of musical talent at Edujazz

The proceeds will provide educational bursaries for disadvantaged students and promote the rich culture of jazz music amongst our youths.

The concert raises funds for educational bursaries, which unifies disadvantaged youths and provides a platform for inspiration and hope. Over 75 schools benefit annually. Workshops are held throughout the year in various schools and platforms and the product of these workshops is The Sekunjalo Edujazz Concert. The project allows young students to express their creative talent and to perform with well-known South African musicians on international stages.

The Beau Soleil Ifidyoli Strings Project commenced in 1999 by Kathleen Garrity to meet the growing need for instrumental tuition in previously disadvantaged communities. This project takes place on Saturday mornings and has grown into a vibrant ensemble with many students crossing over into Beau Soleil Music Centre's main programme.

Active outreach programme

The UWC Wind Jazz Orchestra features on this year's calendar and is one of the programmes offered at the UWC Centre of Performing Arts. The orchestra was established in March 2014 to achieve one of the centre's objectives to have an active outreach programme for students in surrounding communities. The Edujazz project has funded numerous workshops to identify students who can be a part of the centre's music programme.

Over the past 13 years, the Sekunjalo Edujazz Concert has had talented music students from schools such as Steenberg High Jazz Band, Alexander Sinton High Jazz Band, Zerilda Park Primary Band from Lavender Hill and the Muizenberg High Jazz Band share the stage with jazz acts such as Jimmy Dludlu, Tucan Tucan, Virtual Jazz Reality, The Darryl Andrews Jazz Band, Vicky Sampson, Galumphing and MiCasa.

This year's concert promises to be a feast of musical talent. Audiences can also be proud in the knowledge that they have played a role in contributing to a better education for our disadvantaged youths.

Tickets are on sale at Computicket at a nominal fee of R80.

For more information, call Cherie Hendricks or Yvette Davids on +27 (0)21 427 1400.