Ofentse Moses Sebula - H.O.P.E (Holding on to Positive Expectations) (2021)

Ofentse Moses Sebula, South African jazz saxophone protégé and Performing Arts (Music) student at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design, will release his debut album, H.O.P.E (Holding on to Positive Expectations), on digital platforms on 23 March. What makes the release of the album extra special is that it was engineered, recorded, mixed, and mastered by award-winning producer and Music lecturer, Lanie van der Walt, at Wolmer Records.

Sebula was born and raised in Tembisa. By the tender age of nine, he experienced a love like never before and grew obsessed with music. On his keen musical discovery, he met Jerry Molelekwa, father to the late, legendary pianist, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa. Molelekwa took the young Sebula under his musical wing and became a life mentor. Under his musical guidance and knowledge, Sebula joined the Moses Taiwa Molelekwa Art Foundation in 2012.

In this five-year programme of learning and playing, he graduated to join the Taiwa Jazz Band. The band has triumphantly shared stages with prominent jazz artists, like Nduduzo Makhatini, Yonela Mnana, Feya Faku, Lira, and Sydney Mnisi. The prestigious Standard Bank National School's Big Band also took notice of his exceptional talent and handpicked him to join the band in 2017.

In 2018, the star student also shared his gift with the Standard Bank National Youth Band, under the supervision of musical genius, Amanda Tiffin. At the time Sebula bagged his first standing ovation when he brought the audience to tears while improvising his composition, entitled Lost Souls.

His incredible musical journey has led to collaborations with artists Kamogelo Matsoso, Keorapetse Kolwane, Diteboho Kobedi, Nhlanhla Manana, and Viwe Mkhizwana. He has also performed with Nigerian trumpeter and composer, Etuk Ubong, and toured with the Federal Youth Orchestra (BJO) of Germany, conducted by British conductor, Alexander Shelley.

Last year, he added another accolade to his already long list of achievements when he won the Yamaha Gulf Saxophone scholarship competition in Dubai.