Musicians paving the way for more musicians! For budding musicians on the Cape Flats, this foundation is tuning brighter futures:
Cape Town, South Africa (01 October 2023) — Opportunities for musicians aren’t nearly as available as they should be, which is exactly why established musicians helping budding musicians matters as much as it does. For young Cape Flats musicians, a well-respected name in the music world with a jazz touch, Cameron Ward, stands not only as an artist with a career to look up to, but one paving the way for others to make their own.
The Cape Town-born musician has left his mark on stages around the globe, sharing the spotlight with the likes of the legendary Hugh Masekela for many years.
However, after his adventures across the pond, Cameron made the decision to venture homeward to Johannesburg, where he performed alongside some of South Africa’s most respected songbirds and artists including Mi Casa, Lira, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Judith Sephuma and Jimmy Dlu Dlu.
After a decade deep in Jozi’s sounds, Cameron ventured back to his hometown of Lotus River, Cape Town where he set his sights on tuning the futures of other musicians, especially those on the Cape Flats.
Founding the Cameron Ward Music Foundation in 2019 was a change in trajectory. Now, he wasn’t only bringing joy to audiences, but to future artists.
With a focus on budding Cape Flats musicians and future sounds of Cape Town, the Foundation provides youngsters (ranging from as young as seven to 18) with those all-important opportunities to learn and perform. Here, young saxophonists, drummers, bassists, percussionists, guitarists and vocalists get to experience a world away from social challenges in their communities through the music school.
Thanks to this musician giving back to other musicians, the young performers have been able to perform on some of Cape Town’s most loved stages, including the Cape Town Jazzathon at the Grand Arena and the V&A Waterfront.
They also recently performed at the Wave Theatre, and students also recently got to perform on radio via Heart FM!
The more opportunities that are created, the more young Capetonians and South Africans get to stand closer to their dreams and further from what can sometimes feel like the shadows of tough circumstances.
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