Upcoming Masterclass Series & Events

Join TAJE in its mission to inspire unity, celebrate diversity, and promote positive social change.

TAJE Masterclass Series: 
February 18 – March 15, 2025

The TAJE Institute Masterclass Series is an educational initiative of the TransAtlantic Jazz Exchange, designed to empower the next generation of jazz musicians through mentorship and skill development. 

This educational initiative connects young talent from marginalized South African communities with renowned jazz educators and musicians, fostering artistic growth and cultural exchange. In collaboration with key partner schools such as the Music Academy of Gauteng, the Tshwane School of Music, and the Institute for Music and Indigenous Arts Development (IMAD). The program pairs local students with mentors from New York City, Cape Town and Johannesburg. 

Spanning February to March 2025, the series features two-hour masterclasses blending lectures, live demonstrations, and interactive sessions.

Engaging over 200 students in person and online, these sessions will also be available through TAJE’s digital platform, extending their impact to university students and aspiring artists worldwide. 

The TAJE Masterclass Series embodies our mission to connect, educate, and inspire through the universal language of jazz.

View and Book your Tickets here

TAJE SA/USA Musician Exchange Project 2025

In February 2025, the TransAtlantic Jazz Exchange (TAJE) will host acclaimed American jazz artists Kojo Roney and Antoine Roney for a two-week residency exchange in South Africa. 

This project brings live music and mentorship through music workshops in communities with limited access, focusing on areas like Khayelitsha (Cape Town), Benoni (Gauteng), and Wits University.

The music exchange combines ensemble workshops, composer sessions, and public performances uniting USA and SA musicians with students from community music schools. These workshops will promote creative collaboration, skill development, and cultural exchange, while public performances aim to inspire social upliftment and unity.

To broaden its impact, the project will offer online workshops for global audiences and collaborate with satellite schools and community initiatives across South Africa. 

TAJE embodies the spirit of cultural diplomacy, artistic growth, and social transformation through the universal language of jazz.

Meet the artists in residence

Full Schedule

15 February to 11 MARCH 2025

Featured Masterclasses

Our Masterclass Series provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from some of the most talented jazz musicians and educators across SA and the USA. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, including instrumental techniques, jazz improvisation, composition, and the cultural heritage of the art form.

Highlights include:
February 15: “Afro-Centric Anthropological Study of the Evolution of African and African American Music — A cultural and historical perspective on jazz” by Rene McLean (USA) 

February 25: “The Woman Who Raised Us: Identity, Feminism, and Decolonization in the 1980s” by Chantal Willie-Petersen (SA) 

February 27: "Music of Sun Ra" — Insights into the unique compositions and philosophy of Sun Ra by Ahmed Abdullah (USA) 

March 4: “My Sonic Lexicon" — Exploration of soundscapes and sonic experimentation in jazz. by Hilton Schilder (SA) 

March 6:"Telling Stories Through Sound: How to Be Ready" — Storytelling through improvisation and performance readiness by Bheki Khoza (SA) 

March 13: “The Compositional Ladder – Darkness to Light Using the Cycle of Fifths” by James Hurt (USA)

BOOK FOR The 
Masterclasses and 
PERFORMANCEs Here

How to Get Involved

We welcome music students, jazz enthusiasts, and community members to join us in celebrating jazz. Whether you want to attend a masterclass, experience a live performance, or support our mission, there’s a place for you at TransAtlantic Jazz Exchange.

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