The City of Durban is preparing for one of KwaZulu Natal’s biggest music festivals this December. World Jam Music Festival will take place over a two day period on the weekend of 6th and 7th December 2014 and the organizers have not forgotten their CSI responsibilities.
Says Craig Clay-Smith of the Flagship Group and Communications Director for World Jam Music Festival: “Our CSI Programme will focus on the development of Arts and Culture and one of our strategies is a music and performer Talent Search taking place in various towns through KwaZulu Natal as we lead up to the festival event.”
Young people will be invited to participate in these staged events where a prestigious panel of judges will identify emerging artists in each region. This panel will consist of Babo Ngcobo and Ntokozo Ngongoma and will be completed with the selection of one judge from each city, most of whom represent either a community radio station or a television channel.
Durban will hold its event at the eThekweni Community Church (ECC) on the 22nd and 23rd September, and the final will take place in Durban during the second week of November with the venue still to be announced. An overall winner will be chosen, winning not only a grand sum of R10 000, but also the opportunity to perform on one of the World Jam Music Festival stages as part of his or her winning experience.
Aspirant artists and musicians interested in participating are asked to arrive at the venue in their town and go to the registration desk to complete forms with their ID Books and whatever they feel might enhance their performance in the way of dress, effects and personal musical instruments.
“The first day rolls out with the audition commencing at 7 am and those selected will continue through the day rehearsing with a band and backline which we will provide for the contestants. The second day will see finalists going through a tougher audition and being put through their paces, after which we will select the top three winners in each town,” says Nick Nzama, facilitator of the Talent Search on behalf of World Jam Music Festival.
Zama concludes that contestants must be at least 18 years old and can participate in all genres with exception of Gospel Music and Maskandi. “Those who are twenty one and under must provide written proof of their parent or guardians’ consent and no professional musicians or performers are permitted to enter.”
“The inclusion of a talent search within the World Jam Music Festival programme is of huge significance, as the organizers see this as a perfect opportunity to assist in the profiling of emerging young artists on a world class stage, a stage where Durban and its sister-city relationships will provide for musical development and mentorship exchanges and will become part of the programme as the annual event rolls out in the forthcoming years,” says Beverley Theron, Festival Director for the city’s biggest festival event to ever hit KZN shores.
For more information on the Talent Search call Zukiswa on 031 8291640 or 0789791888 or visit www.worldjamdurban.com.