Chris Engel Bio

At age 25, saxophonist Chris Engel has cultivated a very successful career in Cape Town Jazz. Having performed at numerous festivals, on numerous stages, in numerous countries from as early as age 15, Chris has been fortunate enough to perform alongside some of the greats in the South African and International jazz fraternity. These include the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Aarhus Jazz Festival, Cape Town International Jazz Festival (where he performed with world renowned American jazz artists Joe McBride, Gerald Veasley and Kenny Blake), the Cape Town Jazzathon, the Grahamstown Jazz Festival (Eastern Cape, South Africa), the annual Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival and The Knysna Oyster festival (Eastern Cape, South Africa).

Musical Education 1994 - 1999: Turfhall Primary School (Cape Town, South Africa) - Recorder, Piano, Choir, and Music Theory 1997 - 2004: Beau Soleil Music School (Cape Town, South Africa) - Saxophone, Music Theory, Jazz Theory, Saxophone Quartet, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble 2000 - 2004: Rondebosch Boys' High School (Cape Town, South Africa) - Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Choir, Chamber Choir, Music (Theory, Harmony, History & Aural Training) 2000 - Present: The Little Giants/IMAD - Community Youth Music Development Project (As a Student, Teaching Assistent, Teacher, and Composer/Arranger) 2005 - 2008: South African College of Music (University of Cape Town) - BMus Jazz Studies (Performance, Composition & Arrangement) 2006: Norges Musikkhgskole (Oslo, Norway) - 1 Year Student Exchange 2009 - 2011: Norges Musikkhgskole (Oslo, NOrway) - BMus Jazz & Improvised Music Performance He has also attended numerous summer course jazz programmes in Norway and has been fortunate enough to study and attend masterclasses with many master saxophonists, including Prof. Doug Masek (US), Mark Ginsburg (Aus), Dr. Mike Rossi (USA), Dave OHiggins (UK), Johan Horlen (Sweden), Chris Collins (US), Eirik Hegdal (Norway), Petter Wettre (Norway), Ezra Ngcukana (SA), Zim Ngqawana (SA), Barney Rachabane (SA), Shannon Mowday(SA) , Morten Halle (Norway), Jan Balke (Norway), Hein Van de Gein (NL) and Jon Christensen (Norway), to name but a few.

Festivals Played Cape Town Jazzathon (South Africa) Cape Town Bigband Jazz Festival (South Africa) Grahamstown National Youth Jazz (South Africa) Cape Town International Jazz Festival (South Africa) Johannesburg Joy of Jazz Festival (South Africa) Durban's Awesome Africa Festival (South Africa) Knysna Oyster Festival (South Africa) Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2007 (Denmark) Aarhus Jazz Festival 2007 (Denmark)

Other Notable Performances As a 16-year-old high school student, Chris was a regular member of the Marimba Restaurant Big Band (playing every Tuesday night under the direction of Mike Campbell), the DA Band (that performed annually at the Cape Town Jazzathon and regularly at West End, Swingers Jazz Club and Manenbergs Jazz Caf under the direction of Darryl Andrews), and numerous youth bands. This was the beginning of a long and valuable association with the South African College of Music at UCT, where he has spent the last four years completing a BMus degree in Jazz Performance. 2006: 2009: 2010: 2011: South South African National Youth Jazz Band Tour of Sweden Sunset & Sunside Jazz Club (Paris, France) Nasimi Beach Full moon party (Dubai) Oslo Week (Hvar, Croatia) African Opening of Parliament

Musical Accolades Achieved 2000-2004: Music Scholarships to attend Rondebosch Boys' High School (Cape Town South Africa) Music Distinction Honors at Rondebosch Boys' High School (Cape Town South Africa) 2002: Selected to be a member of the South African National Schools Big Band 2005-2008: Various music scholarships to attend South African College of Music (University of Cape Town) Dean's Academic Merit List 2005 & 2006 2006: Selected as the first student to be a part of the NORAD Exchange program between South African College of Music & Norges Musikkhgskole (Oslo, Norway) 2009-2011: Full Scholarship to attend Norges Musikkhgskole (Oslo, Norway) 2009-2011: Member of the North Sea Bigband (Collaborative project comprising musicians & music students from South Africa, Denmark, Norway & Sweden)