Last week, Alan Webster the director of the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival announced that the Conductor of the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band for 2016 would be Carlo Mombelli. He is a very successful bassist, composer, arranger and teacher who has extensive experience working with a wide variety of musicians, young and professional, in different settings.
He also announced that the Conductor of the Standard Bank National Schools’ Big Band 2016 will be Dan Shout, an excellent saxophonist who has played in many bands, including many professional Big Bands, and has experience in conducting school jazz bands.
The NYJF will run from Wednesday 29 June to Tuesday 5 July 2016 in Grahamstown.
We will contact musicians/jazz educators by the beginning of February to finalize participation in the NYJF performance and teaching schedule.
They will also finalize the overarching Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown – which runs from Thursday 30 June to Saturday 9 July by early February.
“Thank you for the many impressive proposals we have received. I have not replied to everything that we have received and we will not be able to include everyone in the programme, but we will attempt to put together a festival which fairly and freshly reflects the diversity and vibrancy of South African Jazz and its interaction with the rest of the world.” ~ Alan Webster
NYJF student application forms and details will be available by the middle of February on www.youthjazz.co.za.
The NYJF is intended as a national meeting point for South African musicians, jazz teachers and students, and is an excellent opportunity for networking and seeing what is happening in the jazz world, locally and internationally. Musicians and jazz educators are invited join in Grahamstown.
