Based: USA & South Africa
Melanie Scholtz was born to sing. Coming from a musical family, she learnt to play the piano at the age 5 and at 16 went to study singing with The Eoan group. In 1997, Melanie enrolled at the SA College of Music at UCT and graduated in 2000 Cum Laude with a Performers’ Diploma in Opera.
In 2002, Melanie won “Best Jazz Vocalist” in the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters and in 2006 released her debut album entitled “Zillion Miles”. Her voice has not only won her awards and competitions, it has also won her favour and acclaim singing the South African National anthem at the President’s Cup Golf tournament in 2003 to former South African president Nelson Mandela and the world. She has been invited to perform in Spain, Portugal, Holland, Morocco, Norway, Sweden and Austria and collaborates with numerous artists both nationally and internationally.
Melanie has performed with the who’s who of the South African jazz scene, as well as acclaimed international musicians such as Norwegian Band “Inkala”, Belgian jazz pianist Jack van Poll, Al Jarreau and Joe Mcbride. She lectured in jazz vocal studies at the University of Cape Town from 2004-2005 and has been involved in Artscape’s Youth Jazz development projects since 2006. Melanie is also an accomplished composer/lyricist/writer and director and in February 2009 recorded her second album with Norwegian trumpeter and producer, Ole Jorn Myklebust. Apart from her own compositions and recordings, Melanie collaborated and was featured with guitarist Jimmy Dludlu on “Peaceful Moment” and on “Which way to go” with Electronic Dj’s Iridium Project. Both these singles went to No 1 on SA Radio. And, she also featured on albums by Mark Fransman, Ivan Mazuse, Goldfish and Breakfast Included.
Melanie has performed at numerous music festivals nationally and internationally and in August 2009 recorded a live album with Inkala in Vadso at the Varanger Jazz Festival in Norway.
It has been said about Melanie Scholtz’s music that it is like a ‘best friend’ and listeners are always inspired by her musical honesty. This South African artist will continue to captivate listeners with her original and unique sound.
Melanie is the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz in 2010.
