As Nguwe Wedwa we are so fortunate to have Mr Xolani Hlongwa as one of the mentors and HOD in our South Coast Mic Check 1 2 Talent Showcase music performance training department. Mr Hlongwa is a highly experienced individual who started as a trumpeter. Shortly after his classical music training he played for an orchestra. Mr Hlongwa studied Jazz in what used to be Natal Technickon, now Durban University of Technology (DUT). He was also mentored through Theo Bophela's programme called Inqwelo Afrika.
Mr Hlongwa introduced and started Jazz education in Umlazi Comtech High School. The programme gave birth to great talent like Dalisu Ndlazi, Neo Dube, Zakhele Maphalalala (who is also in our mentoring team), Zinhle "Zintle" Msane, who is still studying at UKZN and many others that we are not able to mention here at this time. The programme gave participants a strong foundation upon which they anchored their music careers. Many of them continued to study further in UKZN.
Mr Hlongwa left Umlazi Comtech High School in 2017 with the intention to start his own music school. It did not happen immediately. He taught at the Bat Centre and Crawford College, North.
In 2019 he finally started his own music school XH Music Class which is based in Springfield, Durban. The Music Class is a two-year Jazz Music Performance training, in which the participants receive certificates.
"I would like our youth to know that while it is possible to make money from music, education is of utmost importance. We cannot, at this point in time, groom uneducated, ill-informed artists. When an artist is knowledgeable, well equipped, well educated it minimises the chances of being negatively exploited in the music industry. We are here to groom a strong new generation of artists who can self-sustain, who invest in themselves first with education so that when it comes to the business of music, they are also able to handle it. " says Mr Hlongwa.
You can connect with Mr Hlongwa on social media:
Facebook
UCEE Jazz Ensembles
Mr Xolani Bra X Hlongwa
Nguwe Wedwa is grateful to work with this great.
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