Melanie Scholtz was born to sing. Coming from a musical family, she learnt to play the piano at the
age 5 and at 16 went to study singing with The Eoan group. In 1997, Melanie enrolled at the SA
College of Music at UCT and graduated in 2000 Cum Laude with a Performers’ Diploma in Opera.
In 2002, Melanie won “Best Jazz Vocalist” in the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters and in 2006 released
her debut album entitled “Zillion Miles”. Her voice has not only won her awards and competitions,
it has also won her favour and acclaim singing the South African National anthem at the
President’s Cup Golf tournament in 2003 to former South African president Nelson Mandela and
the world. She has been invited to perform in Spain, Portugal, Holland, Morocco, Norway, Sweden
and Austria and collaborates with numerous artists both nationally and internationally.
Melanie has performed with the who's who of the South African jazz scene, as well as acclaimed
international musicians such as Norwegian Band “Inkala”, Belgian jazz pianist Jack van Poll, Al
Jarreau and Joe Mcbride. She lectured in jazz vocal studies at the University of Cape Town from
2004-2005 and has been involved in Artscape’s Youth Jazz development projects since 2006.
Melanie is also an accomplished composer/lyricist/writer and director and in February 2009
recorded her second album with Norwegian trumpeter and producer, Ole Jorn Myklebust. Apart
from her own compositions and recordings, Melanie collaborated and was featured with guitarist
Jimmy Dludlu on “Peaceful Moment” and on “Which way to go” with Electronic Dj’s Iridium Project.
Both these singles went to No 1 on SA Radio. And, she also featured on albums by Mark
Fransman, Ivan Masuze, Goldfish and Breakfast Included.
Melanie has performed at numerous music festivals nationally and internationally and in August
2009 recorded a live album with Inkala in Vadso at the Varanger Jazz Festival in Norway. In
February 2010, Melanie has been invited to perform in Murmansk, Russia as well as in Norway in
March 2010.
It has been said about Melanie Scholtz’s music that it is like a ‘best friend’ and listeners are always
inspired by her musical honesty. This South African artist will continue to captivate listeners with
her original and unique sound.
Melanie Scholtz is the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz for 2010.