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To honour South Africa's rich heritage of jazz piano music, the music department at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Standard Bank bring you the Wits Standard Bank Piano Festival. Curated by Carlo Mombelli with additional support from Istituto Italiano di Cultura and Goethe-Institut, the festival promises some of the best in contemporary South African jazz piano music. The event will take place in the beautiful and intimate Chris Seabrooke Music Hall, which boasts a world-class Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano and excellent acoustics.
The Piano Festival is evidence of Standard Bank's ongoing commitment to promoting the arts in South Africa. To quote Bonga Sebesho, Group Head of Sponsorships at Standard Bank: "The awards have played a pivotal role in recognising and nurturing exceptional South African talent and we remain committed to providing platforms that celebrate and elevate the artistic excellence of our country".
The Programme
FRI, MAR 7, 2025The programme kicks off on Fri, Mar 7 at 19:00 with performances by two past recipients of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz, Kyle Shepherd and Afrika Mkhize. Regarded as a leading South African pianist and composer, Sheperd has a distinctive style that transcends genres,while Mkhize has made substantial contributions to the Cape Jazz and South African Jazz scenes.
SAT, MAR 8, 2025
On Sat, Mar 8 at 19:00, audiences are to be delighted by a performance by another past recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz, Nduduzo Makhathini. Makhatini is described as an improvisor, scholar, and musicologist, and is famous for incorporating the mythical institutions of the Nguni people into his work.
SUN, MAR 9, 2025
The festival concludes on Sun, Mar 9 at 15:00 with two performances. The first is by the Karlsruhe Concert Duo, known for their 'kindred musicality, affinity, and interaction with their instruments'. Featuring Dagmar Hartmann on piano and Reinhard Armleder on cello, they have travelled extensively and are world-renowned in the genre of jazz piano.
The second performance features Berlin-based pianist Jan Gerdes performing contemporary African piano compositions, including works by South African composers. Gerde has mastered both classical-romantic and contemporary repertoires, and is known for treading the line between the traditional and the avant-garde.
Get your tickets
If your dream weekend is filled with pianos and jazz music, book your ticket now! Ticket prices are R250 per person and can be bought here.
