Jazz | The South African College of Music

Programme details

The Jazz Studies Programme, established by in 1989, is South Africa’s leading programme of its kind. UCT Jazz has produced the some of the country’s top jazz artists, who are performing, recording, composing and producing music on stages around the world, and winning awards for their work.

Our postgraduate students have gone on to produce innovative creative research, publish articles and compose large scale works, film scores and more. UCT Jazz graduates are also teaching in music programmes across the country, fostering the next generation of South African jazz musicians.

With award-winning staff, the jazz programme offers students a comprehensive course of study which gives students an excellent grounding in common practice jazz concepts, but also encourages students to explore musical creativity and academic inquiry.

Jazz students can tailor their curriculum to specialise in various aspects of music study, with jazz as their focus, by choosing certain elective courses within their programme.

Students in the jazz stream may choose to focus on any of the following areas:

Jazz improvisation and Performance
Jazz composition and arranging
Music technology
Music education
Academic research in jazz and allied music subjects

Associate Professor Amanda Tiffin

Associate Professor, Head of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice, Jazz Composition & Arrangement

Professor Andrew Lilley

Jazz Piano & Jazz Improvisation

Meryl van Noie

Senior Lecturer Jazz Studies & Music Technology

Nomfundo Xaluva-Dyantyis

Senior Lecturer Jazz Vocals

Justin Bellairs

Lecturer Jazz Saxophone & Woodwinds

Jason Reolon

Lecturer Jazz Piano

Plan of Study & Course descriptions

Click here for more details of academic courses

Courses (degrees and diplomas) offered

Diploma in Music Performance (Jazz Studies) – 3 years
Degree: BMus (Jazz Studies) – 4 years
Postgraduate Diploma (Jazz Studies) – 2 years
Honours – 1 year
Masters – 2 years
PhD – 3 years

Instruments offered in the Jazz Section

Jazz Piano

Bass Guitar

Jazz Bass

Drum Set

Jazz Percussion

Jazz Saxophone

Jazz Flute

Jazz Clarinet

Jazz Trumpet

Jazz Trombone

Jazz Voice

Students will have to demonstrate that they are proficient (as per level) on their chosen prescribed instruments.

Each student is required to take part in a jazz ensemble: UCT Big Band;

Jazz Ensembles (8 small ensembles); Jazz Choir (for vocalists).

Audition and pre-screening information

Entrance requirements:

Diploma students require a pass in matric.

Degree students require a Bachelors pass

Audition requirements:

Jazz auditions will take place in two stages

Screening Video Recording
Live Audition, Interview & Theory Test

Please click here to find more information and requirements.

jazz_audition_info_2024.pdf

UCT Big Band

The UCT Big Band has been part of Cape Town’s jazz scene over the past 25 years, having maintained a consistently high standard of performance to date. Under the direction of Professor Mike Campbell, the UCT Big Band has performed on stages all over the country. Amanda Tiffin took over the baton, so to speak, in 2020. The UCT Big Band, and its smaller version, the UCT Little Big Band, have been one of a few performing groups in South Africa to concentrate on the most contemporary sounds in modern big band jazz, and bringing the full big band sound to indigenous South African music. The group regularly features singers from the jazz programme. The typical concert repertoire will feature a variety of big band jazz ranging from classic swing to the most contemporary jazz/rock and Latin fusion styles, including original material arranged by notable South African Jazz writers.

Annual SACM Jazz Festival

One of the SACM’s flagship events, arranged by SACM Jazz staff, is the annual SACM Jazz Festival which showcases the programme’s top student talent as well as staff and guest performers already in the professional arena.

This annual festival features performances by the renowned UCT Big Band as well as performances by students from the UCT Jazz Vocal programme. The UCT Jazz Vocal programme offers vocalists a national platform, and a diverse range of performance opportunities. Many of our graduates have kick-started their careers with performances with the UCT Big Band, the acclaimed and award-winning UCT Jazz Voices ensemble and the UCT Jazz Choir.