Mzansi Philharmonic Announces Azola Kingston as Artist in Residence for Voices of Home Tour
Azola Kingston, one of South Africa’s most exciting young artists, will travel with the Orchestra on its national tour, making special artwork that shows the feelings, energy, and meaning of the performances. Her art will also appear on Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra’s official tour merchandise, adding a visual side to the Orchestra’s celebration of South African creativity and heritage.
Where Music Meets Art
Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Mzansi Philharmonic, said:
“Azola’s work embodies the same essence as our music, deeply rooted in identity, heritage, and the shared rhythm of South Africa’s story. This collaboration represents the beauty of artistic unity where each note, colour, and brushstroke tells a part of who we are.”
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Johannesburg, Kingston mixes cultures in her art, using bright acrylic paints to explore memory, identity, and belonging through African symbols and abstract styles.
A Journey of Storytelling
Before fully dedicating herself to fine art, Kingston earned an Honours Degree in Fashion Buying from the University of the Arts London. She honed her visual storytelling skills at Disney New York, developing merchandise for Broadway’s The Lion King, Aladdin, and Frozen.
Those experiences shaped her ability to translate emotion into design, which is a skill that now comes to life through her partnership with Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Azola Kingston said:
“Working with Mzansi Philharmonic feels like a homecoming. Both music and visual art have the power to tell our collective story. Through this collaboration, I want to capture the energy, emotion, and unity that the Orchestra brings to every stage. Every painting reflects what it means to be part of this beautiful chorus of home.”
Art in Motion
During the Voices of Home Tour, Kingston will create new artworks inspired by the performances and the communities that host them, transforming each concert experience into a living canvas. Her work will reflect the Orchestra’s mission to bridge cultures, generations, and art forms while celebrating South Africa’s evolving creative identity.
Kingston’s participation builds on Mzansi Philharmonic’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the arts in all their forms, from symphonic excellence to visual storytelling, reaffirming the Orchestra’s role as a cultural voice for unity, excellence, and innovation.
A Rising Star in South African Art
A finalist in the 2024 Sasol New Signatures Competition and winner of the 2025 ANNA Audience Award, Azola Kingston has exhibited both locally and internationally, including at Expo Chicago, the Pretoria Art Museum, Gallery MOMO, and Latitudes. Her artistry continues to inspire a generation of South Africans who see in her work a reflection of pride, resilience, and beauty.
This December, the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra presents its national tour, Voices of Home, inviting South Africans to reconnect with the sound of their identity:
- Johannesburg – 10 & 11 December
- Durban – 13 December
- Cape Town – 16 December (Day of Reconciliation)
- Tickets for all cities are now available on Quicket.
About Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra
The Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra is South Africa’s first national orchestra in the democratic era. Established in 2019, Mzansi Philharmonic is committed to artistic excellence, inclusion and nation-building through music. Mzansi Philharmonic’s vital mandate includes broadening access to orchestral music across South Africa, while presenting flagship events that showcase the cream of South African classical musical talent. Mzansi Philharmonic is supported by the SA Tourism Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, whose mission is to provide an enabling environment for the sport, arts and culture sector to foster an active, creative, winning and socially cohesive nation.
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