UCT ALUMNI CONCERT 2009 - Celebrating Excellence in Music

Celebrating Excellence in Music

UCT ALUMNI CONCERT
Thursday 13 August - Baxter Concert Hall @ 8pm

Featuring internationally renowned alumni performers

Jimmy Dludlu,
Nina Schumann,
Melanie Scholtz
Pretty Yende
Mike Campbell & the UCT Big Band

Cape Town – UCT is proud to announce a concert celebrating the excellence of South African College of Music alumni, on Thursday, 13 August 2009 at 8pm at the Baxter Concert Hall. This year’s celebration features Jimmy Dludlu, Nina Schumann, Melanie Scholtz, Mike Campbell and Pretty Yende. All are UCT graduates and multi-award winning musicians, recognised internationally, who are generously donating their performance at this UCT Alumni Concert to raise funds for music student bursaries.


"Giving back is the challenge to UCT alumni," says Jimmy Dludlu, who has made this objective one of his career goals with the work he is doing in South African townships and universities across the continent. "There are opportunities for UCT alumni in their own way to help develop their communities and support UCT projects as the musicians in this concert are doing".


Jimmy has previously appeared in South African College of Music concerts and flies in from Angola, where he has been teaching. As a performer he is appreciated by millions and has shared stages with artists such as Pat Metheny, Joe Zawinul, Al Jarreau, Gilberto Gil, George Benson, Youssou N’Dour, and Buena Vista Social Club. Jimmy. His style combines both traditional and modern elements of jazz drawn from, among others, Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Pat Metheny, as well as South African legends Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masekela, Themba Mokwena and Allen Kwela. He is particularly drawn to the sounds of west and central Africa, as well as Latin America, but jazz remains his first love. His numerous original compositions fall within the tradition of what has been loosely termed Afro-Jazz.

Dr Mike Campbell, Associate Professor and convener of the Jazz Studies Programme at the SA College of Music directs the UCT Big Band.

Nina Schumann, who is a professor at the University of Stellenbosch, will perform with her husband, Luis Magalhães. The Magalhães-Schumann Piano Duo, or TwoPianists, have presented their repertoire across South Africa, the USA, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland and Japan.


Melanie Scholtz graduated in 2000 and lectured in jazz vocal studies at UCT from 2004 to 2005. She is in great demand as a jazz singer but is equally comfortable performing in other styles: pop classical, R&B or electronica. She returns from performing in Europe for this concert.


Pretty Yende recently made headlines by winning all the top prizes at the Hans Gabor Belvedere International Singing Competition in Vienna - including a season at La Scala.

The UCT Alumni Concert was initiated three years ago to honour the South African College of Music graduates and raise funds for the music bursaries. Selaelo Selota, Judith Sephuma, Sibongile Mngoma and Francios Du Toit performed at the previous concerts.

UCT Alumni is honoured to be associated with these acclaimed musicians and acknowledges their ongoing support and contribution to the music industry and the communities

Tickets cost R120. Book through the Baxter Box Office (021 685 7880), Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers, Pick 'n Pay outlets and on line www.computicket.com

UCT Staff, Students & Alumni Graduates pay R100 and may only be booked at the Baxter Box Office.

Posted in: Jimmy Dludlu, Melanie Scholtz, Mike Campbell, Nina Schumann, Pretty Yende