Vuyolwethu Sotashe

Born in Mthatha, South Africa and raised in nearby Butterworth, Vuyolwethu Sotashe has studied and performed in the jazz idiom for the past six years. Deeply influenced by the musical traditions of the indigenous Xhosa people in his native country, he is conversant on the kalimba, mrhube and many other percussion instruments. Sotashe holds degrees in jazz studies from the University of Cape Town and William Paterson University, the latter of which he attended on a Fulbright Scholarship. He received second prize in the 2015 Shure Montreux Jazz Festival Voice Competition and first prize in the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Vocal Competition. Sotashe has performed with Josh Groban, George Benson, Israel Houghton and Winard Harper.