Jazz Lovers Are in for a Treat as Prof Greg Jasperse Begins Residency at Wits School of Arts
Jazz enthusiasts in Johannesburg have a rare opportunity to witness a master at work as world-renowned jazz vocalist and educator Professor Greg Jasperse begins his residency at the Wits School of Arts. Hosted by the Wits Music Department in collaboration with the Fulbright Program, the residency promises a dynamic week filled with master classes, workshops, and a public concert that celebrates jazz in its finest form.
Jasperse, an acclaimed vocal jazz specialist and the Director of Vocal Jazz at Western Michigan University (WMU), is internationally recognized for his expertise in jazz voice, improvisation, and arrangement. At WMU, he also leads the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company, and performs with the celebrated group Vertical Voices. His impressive performance history includes touring with New York Voices and appearances at notable festivals and symphonies, such as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, and the Gran Canaria Big Band.
A prolific performer, Jasperse has shared stages with jazz legends including Rosemary Clooney, Dianne Reeves, Jennifer Holliday, and Bobby McFerrin. His versatile voice has also been featured on the soundtracks of blockbuster films like Jurassic Park, Epic, Oz the Great and Powerful, and the Star Trek series, further cementing his place in both jazz and popular music.
As a composer and arranger, his works are performed globally by top-tier vocal ensembles such as Chanticleer, The Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Chicago Children’s Choir, and the St. Olaf Choir. Jasperse holds degrees from the University of Miami and WMU, and his career spans both the academic and performance realms with equal distinction.
The residency at Wits, which runs until Friday, May 16, 2025, offers daily professional training sessions from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Music Room on the 8th floor of the Wits Art Museum. These sessions are tailored for music students, educators, and established jazz professionals who are eager to refine their craft and connect with like-minded creatives.
Highlighting the residency will be a public concert on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 7:30 pm in the Christopher Seabrooke Hall at the Wits Music Department. This special performance will feature Jasperse alongside an exciting roster of local jazz talent, promising an evening of rich, collaborative artistry.
Wits music lecturer Chantal Willie-Petersen, who curated the residency, emphasized its broader purpose. “This residency is about more than just performance,” she explained. “It’s about training, collaboration, and growth—fostering connections in the jazz community and the larger music ecosystem.”
With a week of intensive workshops and an electrifying concert on the horizon, jazz lovers and musicians alike are encouraged not to miss this rare opportunity to engage with one of the world’s leading voices in jazz.
