Siya Charles’s earliest ambition was to become a neurologist. But her path shifted after discovering a love for music. Trained in theatre arts and a self-taught pianist, Siya, 34, took up the trombone in high school thanks to a jazz-loving teacher who inspired her to follow her passion. She earned her undergraduate and honours degrees in jazz trombone performance from the University of Cape Town, both cum laude, before completing her master’s degree at The Juilliard School in New York. Her academic journey was made possible by scholarships to both institutions. Now based in the US, Siya is a touring trombonist in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical and freelances in New York City. She is also an international student ambassador at Juilliard, helping new students settle into life in the US. She has won numerous awards, including the 2024 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz and the Emirates Pursuit of Jazz competition, where she performed at the Blue Note Jazz Club. Her work blends excellence with community engagement — particularly through jazz education at the National Youth Jazz Festival in Makhanda.
- In 2025, awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz. Also won the inaugural Emirates Pursuit of Jazz competition, which included the opportunity to perform original music at the world-renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.
- In 2014, won the jazz component of the Fine Music Radio Bursary.
These achievements reflect the value of perseverance, consistency, hard work and character, demonstrating that success follows when belief in one’s talent and unique abilities is sustained.
My greatest role model was, and still is, my late mother, Dr Sylvia Charles. My mother had a passion and a gift for building people up and encouraging them to follow their dreams unabashedly and with determination. She also had the ability to identify people’s gifts and helped them walk in them. She was a mentor to the younger generation and made it her mission to return to the villages she grew up in, in Qumbu town, to encourage the community to be involved in farming and building, as she was involved in civil engineering, construction and renewable energy. Witnessing her walk in her calling as a businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist was one of the most inspiring journeys of my life, and I will forever be inspired by how she loved and encouraged people to follow their dreams.