Top 10 Facts About the
OPEN MIC JAZZ SINGING COMPETITION
The 2018 Open Mic Jazz singing competition has officially kicked off and this year’s contest promises to be the best yet. If you think you have what it takes to be South Africa’s next singing sensation, then grab the mic and listen up! Here are 10 things you need to know about Cape Town’s most popular music competition...
1. A DECADE OF SINGING AND ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’
This year the Open Mic Jazz singing competition celebrates its tenth birthday! In 2008, when singing competitions were few and far between, the contest was launched by GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World as a platform for local up-and-coming talent in the Western Cape.
2. A BOUNTY WORTH OVER R150 000!
On top of a cash reward of R40 000, the winner of the Open Mic Jazz singing competition will receive prizes totalling R150 000. These include a demo recording with The Nuthouse Recording Studios; career mentoring from Bev Scott-Brown of Spotlight Music; vocal training lessons with Kim Kallie Performance Academy; a Beta 87C microphone from Wild & Marr and more! View the full list of prizes here.
3. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
The Open Mic Jazz singing competition is one of the only Cape Town talent competitions that encourages you to practice your singing auditions with a live jazz ensemble. Entrants are invited to attend Warm Up Wednesdays where they can perfect their performance with GrandWest’s Open Mic Jazz Band.
4. A LAUNCHPAD FOR SUCCESS
With the aim of finding the Western Cape’s most talented vocal artists, the Open Mic Jazz singing competition has helped launch the careers of nine former winners, some of whom have gone on to perform at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and at London’s West End. As one of the top female jazz singers in Cape Town, read more about last year’s winner, Adelia Douw, here.
5. TWO DESTINATIONS, ONE WINNER!
Although the majority of the Open Mic Jazz auditions take place at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, the competition also stretches as far as Worcester. Sun International’s Golden Valley Casino hosts two rounds of auditions for entrants who reside in the Cape Winelands and surrounds. To view the audition schedule, click here.
6. ANYONE CAN ENTER
The Open Mic Jazz singing competition is open to anyone over the age of 18. Contestants will be judged on four main criteria: vocal technique, song interpretation, stage presence and audience participation. At the end of the four-week audition round, the top 24 contestants will advance to the quarter finals. From there, 12 contestants will be invited to compete in the semi final after which six finalists will go on to compete for the grand title.
7. COMPETE INFRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
It can be daunting to perform in front of strangers for the very first time. To help calm the nerves, all contestants are encouraged to invite their friends and family to support them at the auditions and qualifying stages should they advance further in the competition.
8. CHOOSE A SONG THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU!
To make life a little easier, contestants are required to select a song of their choice from the official Open Mic Jazz Repertoire Sheet. With over 100 songs to choose from, the list has been carefully designed to offer entrants a wide range of tracks they feel most comfortable to perform. View the full list of songs here.
9. WATCH THE FINALS AT GRAND ARENA
As one of the sought-after venues for the Open Mic Jazz singing competition, Grand Arena is fitted with the industry’s best acoustics to host Cape Town’s most prestigious singing competition. The venue’s theatre-style setting provides the perfect space to inspire Cape Town’s future jazz stars.
10. SET FOR STARDOM
The winner of the Open Mic Jazz singing competition will receive training from the industry’s best teachers and mentors. This includes classes with the competition’s organiser, Bev Scott-Brown, and vocal training with Kim Kallie Performance Academy. The winner of OMJ will then go on to record a demo track with The Nut House Recording Studios.
