UKZN Youth Music Festival

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) presents the UKZN Youth Music Festival which takes place on UKZN's Howard College campus from Friday 18th to Wednesday 23 May. 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 KwaZulu-Natal.

The festival starts with a concert on Friday 18th May at 6:00pm (CJPM) in collaboration with Young Guns (a new initiative to encourage, uncover and provide professional platforms for new school going music talent), featuring 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. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students) Enq 031 260 3385

A music workshop will be presented on Monday 21 May. Facilitated by UKZN Music lecturers, Neil Gonsalves and Debbie Mari, the workshop 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 theUKZN 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. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students) Enq 031 260 3385.

Tuesday 22 May brings an 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. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students) Concert starts at 6pm. Enq 031 260 3385.

The final concert will take place on Wednesday 23 May at 6pm and features senior students from the UKZN Jazz Studies programme under the guidance of Durban pianist and UKZN Music lecturer Susan Barry. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students). Concert starts at 6pm. Enq 031 260 3385.

Gangs of Ballet

Kianja, lead singer of The Sunshine

Sir Walrus Band

Toxic Candy