Elrine Lottino

BIO

“It would be unfair to simply define Elrine by merely calling her a vocalist. In producing music for her, I found her to be what every singer should aspire to be. Not just a singer but a musician. A competent pianist, Elrine can articulate musical ideas she hears in her head and express them outwardly. She has the ability to marry melodies, lyrics and chords to create complete and international standard songs.” – RJ Benjamin (Producer; Performing Artist; Composer; Vocal Coach)

Elrine Lottino (previously “Spies”) has built an extensive career as jazz vocalist, singer/songwriter and vocal coach over a period of approximately 16 years. She has performed as backing vocalist alongside artists such as Asanda Bam, Jan Blohm, and Laurinda Hofmeyer, and works with acclaimed Jazz musicians - Wayne Bosch, Anthony Koopman and Thato Tswai, amongst others. She sings the theme song of the Television Series - Dit wat stom is – in collaboration with Jan Blohm. In 2007, she is awarded the Esme Webb Bequest for her performance in the intermediate round of the prestigious SAMRO Overseas Scholarships for Singers Competition. In 2014, she composes the music and theme song to the feature shortfilm - Neem my saam – screened at the Silwerskerm film festival. Aside from performing, she regularly acts as adjudicator for several university serenade competitions, as well as other competitions such as the Pretoria Eistedfodd.

Her passion for music education is expressed through workshops and short courses of her own design, aimed at aspirant singers and songwriters. She has presented her workshops and courses at several schools and music institutions, including The Vocal Room in Windhoek, Namibia; St. Albans College, and Oakfields College in Pretoria. Several performing artists such as Steyn de Wet, Annemarie Steenkamp, and Tribute “Birdie” Mboweni have consulted her expertise as vocal coach and songwriter. Her advocacy for jazz music programmes in the schooling sector took shape in the form of a Jazz Club, which she spearheaded while appointed as contemporary vocal coach at St Albans College, in Pretoria, from 2015 to 2018. Her students collaborated with music students of the Tshwane School of Music in Eersterust, Pretoria.

Elrine holds a B.Tech degree in music, attained at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) School of Music, in 2005. Her career in the field of music education prompts her engagement in postgraduate studies. In 2018 and 2019, she completes a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (SPFET) via The University of South Africa (UNISA). She graduates cum laude and is offered a merit bursary. She simultaneously completes a B.Mus Honours degree in 2019 at Stellenbosch University (SU), and graduates cum laude. In October 2019, she is accepted for the practical component of the M.Mus Jazz Performance course offered at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and is currently working on a research proposal for submission in the near future.

She remains an active performer and teacher, whilst enjoying her journey as a lifelong student of music. Aside from her professional interests and aspirations, she is a devoted mother, nature lover, and enjoys serving as session musician at Eden congregation, George, where she resides.

“I have been actively involved in the South African music industry as a producer, arranger and session guitarist. In my career I have come across many musicians, artists and songwriters. I am of opinion that Elrine Lottino is a singer ,songwriter and musician of extreme high level. I was involved with songs she recorded and I immediately noticed that she is extremely talented and creative. She will be an asset to any form of institution that involves music or any artist looking for new material.” - Johan Rautenbach (Producer; Musician)