From the International President

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

15 April 2024

Dear WIJSF Members and Supporters,

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the honour of being appointed as the International President of Women in Jazz South Florida. It is with great humility and excitement that I accept this esteemed role, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the organization’s leadership.

I am particularly thrilled about the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated individuals who share a common passion for Women in Jazz South Florida’s mission and vision. Together, I am confident that we are making meaningful strides toward advancing our goals and serving our global community.

In addition to my responsibilities as International President, I am excited to share some thrilling news with you. This October, we will host the inaugural Musicwomen Festival in Atlanta, a landmark event celebrating the extraordinary talent and contributions of women in the music industry. I am delighted to announce that my South African band, JCFI Music Ensemble, has been invited to perform at this momentous occasion.

Bringing JCFI Music Ensemble from Mamelodi, South Africa, to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Musicwoman Festival presents a unique opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage and artistic prowess of South Africa on an international stage. We are grateful for this opportunity.

Once again, thank you for bestowing upon me the honour of serving as International President. I am committed to upholding the values and principles of Women in Jazz South Florida with integrity, passion, and dedication, and we are excited to embark on this journey together.

Love and Music,

Sibongile Anna Buda

International President Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc.

Seventeen years of service is a long time. Volunteerism is the spirit of giving in action. At WIJSF, Inc., one person did the work for 13 years. As of August 1, 2020, she was joined by a staff of professionals, who moved this nonprofit organization forward. This showed us that teamwork is an essential part of any successful endeavor.

Sure, musicians practice and play their instrument, alone. But the real experience is joining with others to bring music to a listening audience. Not every musician has that goal. But, in the sphere of professional musicians who earn their livelihood from producing music, they understand the impact of working with other musicians.

Dr. Joan Cartwright Editor-in-Chief

Collaborative music is magical because it allows each musician’s gift to shine within the ensemble. The magic of music are musicians weaving sounds for those who listen. So, the audience is part of the team. Those who hear the music are blessed with it. It’s a chemical concoction – the musicians, the music, and the audience.

Teamwork is essential. At WIJSF, we publish Musicwoman and Musicman Magazines with the help of a graphic designer, other ad producers, editors, writers, photographers, painters, advertisers, printers, distributors, and our members, who share the magazines with their circle of friends. The best part is the array of instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, producers, promoters, DJs, filmmakers, writers, and educators, who bring the world their brand of music. The men in this issue have consciously collaborated with many women in their musical endeavors and our theme of Collaboration is brimming over in this issue!

In October 2024, WIJSF will present the first, annual Musicwoman Festival in Atlanta. This is our opportunity to showcase the variety of talented women and men who understand our mission to promote women musicians, globally. We’ve gathered young artists who have made themselves known in this very cultural community.

While my daughter, Mimi Johnson works branding, marketing, promotion, and social media, my granddaughter will host the festival, along with two rising stars. Their visibility on social media is phenomenal enough to attract a diverse generational audience to enjoy the music of our musicians and composers like Sibongile Anna Buda from Mamelodi South Africa, our International President, who is bringing the JCFI Music Ensemble to Atlanta on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Members from Florida, New York, North Carolina, California, and Georgia will perform. Two young men - Jarvis Evans (vocalist) and Eric Antoine Giles (sax) will be featured.

This is how we are celebrating longevity and teamwork!

Love and Music,

Dr. Joan Cartwright, publisher