BIOGRAPHY

Impelling the growth of jazz female instrumentalists in South Africa , Linda Tshabalala is a saxophonist from Daveyton, Benoni. Introduced to music in the course of her high schooling, after matriculating Linda resolved to pursue a career in music. In 2002 she joined the Music Academy of Gauteng under the tutelage of Bra Johny Mekoa.
Within the first year, she assumed a position in the Academy’s big band and subsequently toured Holland and Sweden with the band. In 2004 she was part of the big band that was invited to perform at the then International Association of Jazz Educators in New York

Havingattained performance experience, she obtained a hotel residency in South Korea as part of a trio which was inclusive of piano and bass in 2006/2007. She is now currently a former teacher of music academy of Gauteng in 2019.

Linda possesses a diploma in jazz performance from the University of Cape Town and attained the honors degree from Tshwane University of Technology. An avid coordinator, as a student she was part of anorganization called R.Y.T.H.M(Reaching Youth Through Music) and JFCI(Jazz Camp For Female Instrumentalists) now known as INFI(International Network of Female Instrumentalists).She has had the privilege of performing with the likes of Kevin Mahogany, Everett Green, Hugh Masikela, Barney Rachabane, Nomvula Ndlazilwane, Frank Biyong (Holland), Pat Matshikiza and Thandiswa Mazwai. Whilst a student at the Academy, she opened for Wynton Marsalis upon his visit at the academy. She is also a former member of Young Lions, an ensemble initiated by Nduduzo Makhathini in 2011.