THE Saturday of July 25 had music-playing scholars from various schools, schoolchildren, parents, families, friends and radio personalities assembling at the National School of the Arts in Braamfontein for the 2026 iteration of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz’s offshoot platform, Jazz for Young People concert.
Staged around the theme of “putting power back into the hands of youth”, the shindig featured performances by young artists, educational activities, community participation, and fundraising for the school. A full-day family festival replete with food kiosks and a children’s play zone, the event was curated by the youth, for the youth – down to the duo of programme directors.
In its third iteration since its inaugural one in 2024, this year’s J4YP occurred during a year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the youth-led Soweto Uprising, and was also curated by award-winning musician Asanda Lusaseni – a.k.a Msaki – who also led workshops which were held at various institutions ahead of the concert.
The lineup featured the host institution’s band, Pro Arte Alphen Park Performing and Creative Arts High School, Music Academy of Gauteng, JSM Academy, University of the Witwatersrand’s Music Department Jazz Band, Central Johannesburg TVET College’s Music Department, East Rand School of the Arts, Kgutlo Tharo School of the Arts, NU-Bam & The Band, Mahubo Band and Spartan High School.
On a warm winter day, the NSA’s field was converted into a sonic space permeating delightful sounds as mostly teenagers showcased their musical nous in instrument and voice before an appreciative audience.
One of the performers who caught attention was 17-year-old singer Tlotliso Nkonoane. A Grade 12 pupil at Pro Arte Alphen Park Performing and Creative Arts High School, she exuded vocal ability complemented by stagecraft which belied her tender age while underscoring the intention behind J4YP in providing opportunity for young performers such as herself to share their talent with a live audience.
The Proclamation Hill lass wowed the audience with Shania Twain’s upbeat 1999 hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and was the embodiment of confidence and female empowerment as she strutted her stuff in a little black dress which appeared suitable for belting out a song containing lyrics with a sassy innuendo about “short skirts.”
Donning a variation of the LBD iconized by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the young songstress – whose other name is Diamond – expressed her repertoire while oozing an ilk of pizzazz reminiscent of Tina Turner! (For an aspiring future record label proprietor – as she disclosed during an interview – based on both her presentation and performance, she’s definitely one to look out for.)
Nkonoane’s band was composed of fellow female teenagers who played bass guitar, keyboard and vocals. Two of the vocalists, viz Bokamoso Malahlela and Peo Mokgoko, impressed with their execution of Judith Sephuma’s ‘Iya Iyo’ and Amanda Black’s ‘I Do’, respectively.
A band which had the audience spellbound was the 25-piece Orlando West-based JSM Academy. A NPO which has been in existence for six years and presently subsists sans funding, it was established as a music school where any young person can participate in, and has over the duration of its existence honed the skills of students through Saturday and online classes.
Boasting students who play, inter alia, woodwind and reed instruments, the academy offers foundation and intermediary phase tutoring and its students possess qualifications overseen by Trinity London School of Music and Royal School of Music. Its outlook aligns with Msaki’s Fetch
Your Life Foundation’s purpose of mentoring youth in underserved communities.
The rendezvous was augmented by publicity from the SABC’s radio stations, Radio 2000 and SAFM which did live broadcasts helmed by two of its seasoned presenters, Bertha Charuma and Ernest “Smoke” Pillay.
Charuma’s makeshift studio was a hive of activity as she hosted interviews with numerous young performers throughout her slot.
Another familiar radio personality present was Talk Radio 702’s Nothemba Madumo, peradventure on a reconnoitering mission to sass out upcoming music talent.
Asked about the purpose of the event, the Jazz and Beyond program presenter commented about its vitality regarding the youth’s careers, averring: “It’s a beautiful start for the youngsters as they get to experience what it takes to perform for an audience.”
Also attending was Peter Tladi, a stakeholder who is relevant to the future of aspiring career musicians such as Nkonoane.
The CEO of T-Musicman and founder of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival, the influential promoter was spotted lounging in the hospitality area with his wife Jane and the Standard Bank Brand & Marketing Head Yolisa Koza.
Asked about the motivation behind her entity’s initiation of the venture, Koza commented that it as so as to showcase young talent – adding that it essentially was “to provide a platform for adults to offer their support.”
After the jam-packed shindig had been ongoing since the morning until late in the afternoon – the curtain fell on it when Msaki brought the programme to a crescendo, when she performed with all the bands for an apt finale.
Image Jacob MAWELA (Tlotliso Nkonoane, a singer with Pretoria’s Pro Arte Alphen Park Performing and Creative Arts High School limned performing during the 2026 Jazz for Young People concert held at the National School of the Arts in Bra.)
