Kutlwano Masote

Kutlwano Masote was raised in a rich classical music environment, excelling on the cello. With a career spanning over three decades as a professional classical music practitioner, his conducting debut accompanied by a full orchestra was at a concert of the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo conducting major orchestras in South Africa

Focusing mainly on cross-cultural repertoire, he has conducted the Todd Matshikiza Retrospective Concert and world-premiere Coming Home, a jazz gospel cantata by Isak Roux during the MIAGI Festival.

His appetite for bridging the gap between different performance traditions has seen Masote orchestrating hip-hop tracks for Khuli Chana, conducting mainstream artists such as Sibongile Khumalo and Yvonne Chaka Chaka along with international collaborations conducting a concert of Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil and the Philharmonia Moments Musicaux.

With a broadcasting career dating back to 1999 with stints on Classic FM and currently presenting Weekend Sundowner Classics on SAfm. He has enjoyed further accolades being appointed sound designer for the //hapo exhibition of the Freedom Park Museum, was a nominee for Best Composer at the Naledi Awards of 2015 and 2016, serving on boards of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and has served as chairman of the SAMRO Foundation and the Arts and Culture Trust.
"During the past 20 years we have witnessed people’s displacement on an unprecedented scale resulting from conflict, human trafficking and climate change.

The Covid-19 has worsened this global challenge.

It is my hope that musicians’ efforts through this beautifully resonant song, will keep this conversation alive as we tackle these challenges."