Viwe Mkizwana Ensemble

Viwe Mkizwana is a an artist from South AFrica.

He is a Mzantsi Jazz award winner, two time SAMA nominee and an endorsee of Yamaha Global Music SA.

Mkizwana hails from the Eastern Cape. He began playing Classical Double Bass at the East Rand School of the Arts at the age of seventeen. In 2008 Mkizwana’s love of music led him to the Tshwane University of Technology, where he successfully obtained his National Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music in 2011. He completed his Bachelor of Music Honours degree at the University of Pretoria in 2016.

Mkizwana studied with Marike Prins and Professor Mark Duby and has received masterclasses with Leon Bosch (London). His passion for music has taken him around the country and the world; he was privileged to perform with the MIAGI Orchestra in Amsterdam (The Royal Concertgebouw), Germany (Berlin Philharmonia) and Sweden (King’s Castle). Through his travels he has had the opportunity to play alongside celebrated musicians such as Nils Landgren of Sweden, Rodolfo Maderos of Argentina, Gilberto Gil of Brazil, Anders Paulson of Sweden and Camille Favre-Bulle of France, Grammy award nominee, John Fresk, and Grammy award winner, Wouter Kellerman.

Besides the MIAGI orchestra where he served as principal bassist, Mkizwana has also played with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, and served as the principal bassist in the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2011, he was selected as one of the top twelve Bass players in the Gauteng region and invited to perform in Bassment, Africa’s first 12-piece double bass ensemble. The ensemble’s formation and memorable journey was showcased in a South African documentary in the same year.

In the jazz arena, Mkizwana has worked with the likes of McCoy Mrubata, Paul Hamner, Nduduzo Makhathini, Titi Luzipo, Spha Mdlalose, Thandi Ntuli, Nomfundo Xaluva, Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo, Andile Yenana, Zoe Modiga and Khaya Mahlangu, Bokani Dyre, Sisonke Xonti, Marcus Wyatt, Luyanda Madope.

In 2014 Mkizwana formed the successful Mkizwana Ensemble. The band performs a variety of African- and jazz-influenced original compositions by Mkizwana. The ensemble released their debut album African Skies on 23 July 2016 to critical acclaim. The bands sophomore album Tributes was launch in September 2019. The ensemble has performed at the Moretele Jazz Festival, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, UNISA, University of Pretoria, The Orbit, State Theatre Jazz nights, and featured on Mzansi Magic Downtown jazz sessions, among others. The Mkizwana Ensemble continues to receive positive publicity and was invited to play at the SABC News Room on International Jazz Day and national radio stations such as Power FM, Radio 2000, Metro FM, Kaya FM, and SA Fm.

Mkizwana is currently a bass teacher and orchestral sectional instructor at Pretoria High School for Girls. He has an immense passion for developing young learners through music education, especially those from disadvantaged communities. More recently, Mkizwana served as the bassist for the internationally acclaimed theater production of The Color Purple and contributed original compositions to the Young Euro Classic Festival...