SA: Zoë Modiga and Samson Diamond to headline Jazz and Pop concert

The concert will feature Zoë Modiga and Samson Diamond, who will be joined by NSA learners. It seeks to highlight the country’s artistic education pipeline, with Modiga and Diamond returning to the stage where their musical journeys began.

Zoë Modiga, a multi-award-winning singer and composer, has built an impressive career since graduating from NSA. Known for her soul-stirring music and powerful storytelling, she has performed at major international festivals, including the North Sea Jazz Festival and Afrika Festival Hertme in the Netherlands. Her discography includes three critically acclaimed albums, and she has collaborated with industry legends such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela, and Thandiswa Mazwai.

“The National School of the Arts is a sanctuary, a place where all the artistically gifted could meet, be empowered and form lifetime connections,” Modiga said. “I am excited to make memories and magic with the students whose walk I am very familiar with. This is my gratitude through song, a heartwarming, full circle moment alongside Dr Samson Diamond, a fellow alumni. We are NSA!”

Meanwhile, Diamond is a multi-award-winning violinist with a Doctor of Philosophy in Music from the University of the Free State. Over the years, he has established himself as a distinguished musician, serving as concertmaster for the Chineke! Orchestra’s European and North American tours and performing at prestigious events such as the Lucerne Festival and BBC Proms.

Diamond said: “What distinguishes NSA's approach to arts education is how it integrates rigorous technical training with authentic performance opportunities. The students I’m rehearsing with aren't just learning about music—they're living it through professional-calibre production experiences that few secondary schools worldwide can match.”

Diamond, who is also the associate concertmaster of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra and Manager of Education and Community Engagement at the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, praised NSA’s unique approach to arts education. He highlighted the school’s integration of rigorous technical training with real-world performance opportunities, noting that the students he is rehearsing with are not just learning music but experiencing professional-calibre productions that few secondary schools worldwide can offer.

Audiences will enjoy a diverse selection of local and international repertoire, including ‘We Really Love This Place’ (TKZee), ‘Feel Good’ (Lira), and ‘Daddy Lessons’ (Beyoncé), among others.