UCT South African College of Music alumna Siya Charles, a local female trombonist, composer and arranger has been accepted to study at the world-renowned performing arts school, The Juilliard School, in New York, with a current acceptance rate of around 7%. The 31-year-old taught herself to play piano as a child and has played among legends of South African jazz. She encourages young musicians to never give up despite life’s challenges.
CAPE TOWN - Since primary school, Siya Charles has always had a natural knack for music, now her exceptional talent as a trombone player accompanied with hard work has landed her a $52,250 (R796 282) scholarship to attend the world famous, The Juilliard School in New York City later this year.
The Juilliard School has an acceptance rate of around 7%, making the opportunity for Charles to study a Master of Music degree, specialising in jazz tenor trombone performance, all the more extraordinary.
“On behalf of the Jazz Tenor Trombone faculty and the Admissions Committee, it gives me great pleasure to offer you admission to the Master of Music program at The Juilliard School for the 2022-23 academic year. We are thrilled to invite you to join this extraordinary community of performing artists from around the world for an unparalleled educational experience. Through your application and audition, you have demonstrated that you have the talent, passion, and motivation needed to thrive as a member of this community,” her acceptance letter read.
Charles could not contain her excitement.
“I’m really excited, a bit overwhelmed. I didn’t think I’d be good enough, I have a bit of imposter syndrome (doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud.), I just took a chance on myself, so I’m nervous but excited at the same time.”
The application process for Julliard was not easy, Charles explained.
“I filled out the application, it’s quite a lot of admin, essays as well as resumes, also recordings of ourselves playing. This is then sent for pre screening, if you get approved then you are invited for a live audition in New York. I went for the audition on March 2. The audition consists of two rounds, you have to sit around and wait the whole day to hear if you get called back for the second round. It’s quite nerve wrecking but it was a fun experience,” she said.
Since childhood the budding performer had a love for music but did not know how to read it, so it was only in high school that she had the opportunity to learn and she grabbed it with both hands.
The 31-year-old trombonist, composer and arranger from Plumstead has played among legends of South African jazz, including in the bands of late Hugh Masekela and Jimmy Dludlu.
“I’ve always been very musical, I taught myself the piano as a kid. I started reading in high school. I had a wonderful trombone teacher in high school. He had also studied at UCT, and he told me they were looking for people to play brass instruments in the school orchestra.
I was very tomboyish so I didn’t want to play what all the girls were playing. The trombone looked difficult and a lot of people didn’t want to play it. That’s how I knew it was the one. I learned it very quickly and realised I like this instrument.”
In 2009 she started studying at UCT’s South African College of Music, where she completed a four-year Bachelor’s degree.
She had started her Masters of Music, jazz stream on trombone and bass trombone but only fulfilled the recital component, as the passing of her mother in 2019 was so devastating that she could not complete the dissertation required at the time.
“I decided to take a break and travel with a music production called Matilda, across Asia.
I came back home in March 2020 and decided to start my band, The Siya Charles Sextet.”
Before starting her own band, Charles said she usually played freelance in other bands. With her own band, which has performed across the country, she can bring her own arrangements and lead the band, which she enjoys.
Charles added that what people did not realise was that music is a serious artform.
“It requires many hours of practising and it’s mostly entrepreneurial, so we create work for ourselves, that’s why Covid had such a major impact on the industry. Decided that time I decided to go into the live streaming space, curating concerts and applied for government funding that helped quite a bit.
She encouraged young people with dreams to make it in music that education was the key to success.
“Music is amazing, we play music to make people happy and bring joy to people’s lives. Education is the door, it’s the key that opens up so many doors for you. I would encourage you not to give up and let circumstances like finances make you feel like you don’t qualify or deserve to make it. I lost both my parents, I’ve had to self fund my entire career, I’ve done it, I’ve faced life’s challenges and overcome them, so it is possible.”
Her former lecturer, William Haubrich said her achievement was “fantastic news”.
“Though her stream was jazz, Siya had ardently participated in all SACM’s large ensembles, those being Wind Band, Big Band and Symphony Orchestra. Thus, she had provided a particularly crucial contribution to these ensembles while developing versatility and musical maturity. Her professional experiences have spanned jazz, orchestral, and shows, recently completing an international tour of “Matilda”. She has a lot to offer, as she understands the struggles of many young people here, and has responded to her own challenges with strong character and a continually upbeat outlook,” he said.
In total it will cost Charles $80,442 (R1 225 924) including accommodation, food transport etc, leaving her with about R430 000 to raise. She said she would be applying for funding but also welcomed any donations. She can be contacted on maestra.charles@gmail.com
Cape Times