Safiya Joscelyne
Jazz Vocalist, Composer and Music Teacher
"Joy, sadness, fun and mysticism" - audience member
"Evoked images in every song" - audience member
Everybody's Song But My Own
Watch this short excerpt from one of my gigs where pianist Nils Kavanagh and I create improvised synergy through a connecting interlude.
Everybody's Song But My Own - written by Kenny Wheeler
Watch My Final Recital Now
Last June I performed my Final Recital at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. This an exciting set of contemporary jazz, reimagined standards and ordinal tunes.
Safiya Joscelyne: Live at the Richard Burton Theatre
About
I’m a jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger based in Cardiff, and a recent graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. During my time at RWCMD, I performed regularly at the College’s own Amser Jazz Time and at venues across Cardiff and beyond, working with a range of ensembles and leading my own projects.
I grew up in a small village in Devon and first discovered the jazz through artists like Caro Emerald and Amy Winehouse, before finding my way to the timeless voices of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald. Those influences, along with early experiences performing in school concerts and musical theatre, shaped my love for singing and storytelling through music.
At RWCMD, I was fortunate to study with brilliant jazz vocalists including Brigitte Beraha, Anita Wardell, Sara Colman, and Nia Lynn who influenced my sound and musical vision, as well as train in the Estill Method with Tim Richards and Ian Nicholas. Since graduating, I have been continuing my Estill training and am currently working towards my Estill Figure Proficiency qualification.
I have always been a passionate teacher and over the past year, I have been working in the music department at Bryanston School. I have been teaching class music, leading ensembles and teaching music theory. I offer 1-1 or group music lessons in singing, composition, music theory and much more!
Alongside performing and teaching, I love to explore arranging and composing - from reimagining standards like You Stepped Out of a Dream, Willow Weep for Me, and The Way You Look Tonight, to writing and arranging my own pieces such as Indigo Nights and Fire Dance for big band. To hear some samples of my compositions, click here.
I am also available to perform at weddings, whether you want a live jazz band for your evening reception, a ballad to accompany you down the aisle or a song written just for your special day I can curate and perform the music for your wedding.
I regularly perform with award-winning pianist Nils Kavanagh, and together we create music that blends classic jazz influences with a fresh, contemporary energy. See what's coming up on my Events page.