Sydney Mavundla at Hugh's Jazz Club

Instrument: Trumpet

• Born in Johannesburg and grew up in Barberton (Mpumalanga).

• Started learning trumpet at the age of 14, his father being his first teacher. In 1986 he was introduced to Prince Lengoasa who was his first formal teacher and later that year he studied with Brian Thusi in Durban. Through Brian he got a chance to play with Mario Monteregge’s Music Unlimited Big Band. In 1989 he then moved to Johannesburg where he did grade 12 and took some theory lessons with Cyril Khumalo at AMDA later trumpet lessons with Allan Wright.

• He entered the Natal University for B Mus. Degree in jazz studies in 1992 under the directorship of Professor Darius Brubeck. During that time, he took trumpet lessons from Michel Schneuwly (Principal trumpet player KZNPO) and arranging from Chris Metz. In 1995 he won a scholarship to study in the USA Florida International University (Miami) with the renowned Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and John Bailey (USA). He took conducting lessons from Dr Richard Holtz and Mr Ivor Bosanko (USA).

• In classical field he has worked with Johannesburg Music Initiative (JMI), Kwa Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO), Johannesburg Festival Orchestra (JFO), and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO)

• Sydney also formed part of the teaching staff at the annual youth jazz festival in Makhanda (Grahamstown) where he also played trumpet in the Awesome Big Band made up of local and international musicians.

• Sydney participated at the jazz summer workshops for the youth, hosted by Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) as part of the teaching staff.

• He has toured extensively in and out of Africa. Presently Sydney is working with different set ups including his own Quintet.

• A debut album (LUHAMBO) was released around December 2016 and got a South African Music Awards (SAMA) 2017 nomination.

• A new album (Dirge for our fathers) was released in April 2024, Radio Metro FM awards 2025 nomination. Winner of Backing vocalist and session musician awards (BVMS) 2023.

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Doors open at 18:00

The show begins promptly at 19:30

Please refer to our website for FAQ's.

www.hughs.co.za