Siya Charles is a force to be reckoned with in the world of jazz. Her recent win of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz is a testament to her talent and dedication to the craft. Born and raised in South Africa, Charles has spent most of her career outside of her home country, honing her skills and making a name for herself on the international stage.
After completing her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Trombone Performance at the University of Cape Town, Charles went on to pursue a Master’s degree in music at The Juilliard School in New York City. Her time abroad allowed her to work with legendary musicians such as Hugh Masekela, Ulysses Owens Jr, and Geoffrey Keezer, among others.
Despite her success overseas, Charles has always felt a strong connection to her roots in South Africa. She has fond memories of attending the National Arts Festival and Youth Festival, where she first discovered her love for jazz music. This year marks her 20th anniversary of attending the festival, a milestone she cherishes deeply.
Winning the Standard Bank Young Artist Award came as a surprise to Charles, who is known for her humility and dedication to her craft. She credits Alan Webster, the director of the national youth jazz festival, for advocating on her behalf and helping her secure the prestigious award.
Looking ahead, Charles hopes to use her platform to champion other female musicians and give back to her community. She envisions establishing jazz education programs that not only teach music but also provide meals to children in need. Her goal is to create a space where young musicians can thrive and learn from the best in the industry.
Despite her formal education and training, Charles remains true to her artistic roots. She values the skills she acquired through formal training, such as composition, arranging, and band leadership. These skills, she believes, are essential for longevity in the music industry and allow her to continue evolving as an artist.
As she embarks on this new chapter in her career, Siya Charles remains a shining example of talent, dedication, and humility in the world of jazz. Her passion for music and her commitment to giving back to her community make her a truly exceptional artist, deserving of all the accolades that come her way. Charles, the talented musician, is known for her ability to balance the creative with the cerebral. She describes herself as a cerebral person who enjoys the technicalities of music. Despite her formal education, Charles’s creativity remains unbridled.
During her performance at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Charles shared that one of her songs, “Ascension,” came to her in a dream. She believes that her musicianship is linked to her faith, as she sees her compositions as musical downloads from the hereafter. The beauty of the balance she strikes between the creative and the intellectual allows her to capture these melodies and notate them after receiving them in her dreams.
Although there are only snippets of Charles’s music available online, she is set to record her debut album soon. Having recently graduated, she now has the time and resources to focus on her music career. Charles comes from a musical background, with her grandfather being a self-taught musician. Her song “KwaLanga” serves as an ode to him, as a tribute to his musical legacy.
Charles plans to perform some of her compositions dedicated to her loved ones at the National Arts Festival. She acknowledges the importance of documenting and sharing her music as a way to honor those who have influenced her musical journey.
In conclusion, Charles’s unique ability to balance the creative and the cerebral in her music sets her apart as a promising artist to watch. With her debut album on the horizon, music lovers can look forward to experiencing the ethereal melodies that she captures from her dreams.
