Eight Kroenendal Music Academy Jazz Band members are hoping to tour Germany for two weeks for gigs and workshops. From left, are Emily Walters (baritone sax), Vuyo Nkasawe (keyboard), Imange Mantambo (alto sax), Keegan Steenkamp (trombone), Laicah Banda (drumkit), Dwyn Griesel (conductor), Zakhiel Davids (trumpet), Zoe Guenantin (tenor sax) and Curtly Masemola (bass).
A Hout Bay jazz band is appealing for help to raise funds for a tour to Germany next month.
The eight Kroenendal Music Academy Jazz Band members hope to travel to Germany for two weeks of gigs and workshops.
The band last toured the country in 2012, according to director and conductor Dwyn Griesel.
The non-profit academy provides music lessons for disadvantaged children in Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg.
“For our first German tour, we were initially invited by Community H.E.A.R.T., the organisation originally set up by the late Denis Goldberg, who sadly passed away in 2020.
“Now, in 2024, we have been invited again by the same organisation, to spend two weeks visiting schools and other music programmes in six different cities, where we will be holding workshops and performances. We will also perform in the prestigious Stelzen Festival Bei Reuth for two nights next month,“ Ms Griesel said.
Zoe Guenantin, 22, of Hangberg, plays the tenor saxophone and the clarinet and also works as an admin officer at the academy. She said she discovered her passion for music at 13 and it was a primary school dance teacher who introduced her to the academy in 2014.
“Since then, I’ve been part of the jazz band, playing the clarinet.”
After matriculating from Hout Bay High School in 2020, she started working at the academy as a supervisor.
“In 2018, I joined the band for a tour of Scotland. We mostly cover McCoy Mrubata, Winston Mankuku, Hugh Masekela and Ramon Alexander. I would say the music we play represents our diverse cultures in South Africa, playing klopse goema from the coloured culture to playing mbhaqanga from the Xhosa culture.
“However, the challenges as a working musician is not being able to practise during the day a lot as I work 9am - 5pm.”
Curtly Masemola, 31, who grew up in Hout Bay and finished high school in Atlantis, has been with the band since 2013 and is the head of music at the academy.
“I grew up in a musical family and my passion for music started when I saw my uncle shredding on his guitar on our church stage, and I was just amazed by the sounds that came out of the amp and how much fun he had whenever he played.
“I would always tag along when he went to rehearsals and sound-checks. My first instrument was the electric bass guitar, but I do dabble with other instruments like the djembe, double bass, piano, drums, percussion, guitar, marimbas, and I'm still learning.
“I've never left the country before, but I played all over South Africa, and leaving for Germany with my first jazz band is a dream come true.”
Ms Griesel said the academy would appreciate any help to cover some of the expenses for the trip.
It will hold its annual jazz band fund-raiser at the Nassau Centre in Newlands on Friday May 17, at 7pm.
For more information, contact Dwyn Griesel at director@kmahoutbay.org or call 082 331 4062.
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