NALEDI - Meet the 2023-24 Savannah Music Festival Artist-in-Residence

SMF is proud to introduce its first year-round artist-in-residence, Naledi Masilo. During her time in Savannah, Masilo is working with Savannah-area students, offering educational opportunities to members of the community and performing as part of SMF’s Musical Explorers. Masilo’s residency will culminate with an original work conceived and performed with Savannah choreographer MiKeshia McPhaul on May 11 at the Fine Arts Hall at Georgia Southern’s Armstrong campus.
Masilo grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, graduated from the University of Cape Town and earned a degree in Jazz Performance at The New England Conservatory. In 2019, Masilo was honored as a Kennedy Center Artist in Residence, where she was mentored by Dee Dee Bridgewater and Jason Moran.
Selected as a resident for the Banff International Jazz and Creative Music workshop in Calgary, Canada, Masilo has performed live at Jazz @ Lincoln Center in New York, The Orbit in Johannesburg, South Africa and the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles. She specializes in teaching music history and South African jazz. Masilo believes that music is a gift that can transform lives, inspire action and empower future generations.