Naledi Masilo

Embark on a musical odyssey with NALEDI, South African vocalist, educator, and storyteller, currently based in New York City. Her soulful melodies echo the vibrant tales of her African heritage, weaving through the jazz tradition, storytelling, and a boundless artistic curiosity.

A luminary in her early career, NALEDI earned degrees in International Relations, Sociology, and Jazz Performance from the University of Cape Town and The New England Conservatory of Music. This catapulted her into the spotlight as a standout talent, with accolades including being selected as part of the premier South African Standard Bank National Youth Band and winning the top three positions in the International Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition and National Dolo Coker Jazz Competition. She also secured the Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition.

Mentored by luminaries such as Dominique Eade, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Jason Moran, NALEDI's artistic prowess blossomed. Artistic residencies at the Presidential Kennedy Center and Banff International Jazz and Creative Music workshop underscore her global impact, while her performances at iconic venues like Jazz @ Lincoln Center, The Orbit, Artscape Theater, Grandwest Arena, Jordan Hall, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Trustees Theater, and Museum of African American Art resonate with audiences worldwide.

A force in the Boston jazz scene, NALEDI's collaboration with the Makhanda Big Band and Bill Lowe's Signifyin' Natives attests to her versatility. Her musical theater debut in Somi Kakoma's Dreaming Zenzile, exploring Miriam Makeba's life, garnered acclaim at renowned theaters across the United States, including The Repertory Theater of St Louis, McCarter Theater, Paramount Center, and New York Theater Workshop - earning her her first global nomination as "Best featured actress" in the Audelco Awards.