Young musicians will have the opportunity to learn how to turn their creativity into sustainable careers when the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz presents the Jazz Wise Youth Music Business Workshop on Thursday, 17 September at Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein.
Running from 09:00 to 16:30, the workshop will bring together young musicians, students and established professionals from across South Africa’s music industry for a day of learning, networking and mentorship.
Jazz Wise is designed to encourage emerging musicians to develop a strong business mindset alongside their artistic skills. The programme will cover areas including songwriting, A&R, recording, publishing, marketing, investment, knowledge acquisition and sustainability.
Industry experts take centre stage
The workshop will be facilitated by singer, television presenter and creative entrepreneur Pilani Bubu, a SAMA Award-winning artist and producer of the Folklore Festival.
Bubu brings experience in brand-building, budgeting, grant applications, deal-making and artist production to the workshop, which will feature three key panels tackling some of the biggest challenges facing young musicians.
The first panel, titled ‘Risk Capital for Culture’, will explore the question: ‘Who funds what?’
The discussion will feature Violet Maila, who leads the Music in Africa Foundation’s South African operations and the Music in Africa Live tour grant programme, as well as Dorine Lebreton, Deputy Director at IFAS, and Caroline Christgau, Project Coordinator for Music and Creative Economy at Goethe-Institut Johannesburg.
The panelists will unpack funding opportunities, touring, artist residencies, cultural programmes and the role of institutions in supporting African creative talent.
The second panel, ‘From Classrooms to the Global Stage’, will ask: ‘Can talent alone hold it down?’
Jazz pianist, educator and musicologist Dr Phuti Sepuru will be joined by composer, arranger, bassist, vocalist, arts researcher and lecturer Chantal-Willie Petersen. Croatian-born jazz vocalist and composer Ziza Muftic and guitarist and Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Vuma Levin will also take part.
Staying true to the music while building a business
The final panel, ‘Purpose Value Versus Industry Value’, will tackle the question: ‘Can you stay true to your why and still get paid?’
The conversation will be hosted by drummer, author and academic Tumi Mogorosi, who has more than a decade of experience as a performer and music industry practitioner.
He will be joined by independent singer-songwriter Internet Athi, whose music has surpassed one million streams without being signed to a record label; musician, producer and Manana Music founder Ndumiso Manana, who is also the 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music; and Nontando Mokoena, Project Manager for the SAMPRA Development Fund.
The panel will examine the balance between artistic purpose and commercial sustainability, while giving young musicians insight into the realities of building careers in the industry.
‘Empowerment is access’
Mantwa Chinoamadi, CEO and curator of the Joy of Jazz festival, says creating access to industry knowledge is essential for the next generation of musicians.
“Empowerment is access. When young musicians and students step into spaces like Jazz Wise, they must leave with more than inspiration they must leave with industry knowledge, real networks, and the confidence to turn talent into enterprise,” she says.
“Our job is to open the doors, bring the right people into the room, and ensure the next generation doesn’t just watch the industry they lead it.”
Standard Bank Group Head of Sponsorship Bonga Sebesho says the initiative forms part of the bank’s broader commitment to supporting young creative talent.
“Jazz Wise reflects Standard Bank’s commitment to driving Africa’s growth by investing in the next generation of creative talent,” Sebesho says.
“The workshop empowers young people with the knowledge, networks and entrepreneurial skills needed to navigate the music industry, grow sustainable careers from their craft, and contribute meaningfully to the future of South Africa’s creative economy.”
A gateway to careers and opportunities
The workshop is aimed at high school students, university students and young professionals looking to develop careers in music and the broader creative economy.
Beyond education and networking, Jazz Wise will also provide a platform for the intake of interns for the year, giving participants an opportunity to potentially gain practical experience within the industry.
The event forms part of the broader 2026 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz programme, which positions the festival as more than a celebration of music, but also as a platform for cultural and economic development.
The workshop takes place on Thursday, 17 September 2026 at Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein from 09:00 to 16:30.
Tickets for the wider 2026 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival are available through Ticketmaster, with prices starting at R1 150 for a Friday/Saturday Day Pass and R2 250 for a Weekend Pass. Standard Bank cardholders can qualify for up to 15% off, subject to the applicable terms and availability.
