Kutlwano Masote
Kutlwano Masote was raised in a rich classical music environment, excelling on the cello, and has been a professional classical music practitioner for nearly thirty years. He made his professional conducting debut in 2006 in a concert of Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied by full orchestra.
Since then, he has focused mainly on cross-cultural repertoire and projects. In 2007 he conducted the Todd Matshikiza Retrospective Concert at the State Theatre. During the MIAGI Festival of 2008, Kutlwano conducted the world premiere of Coming Home, a jazz gospel cantata by Isak Roux. Some of the mainstream artists he has conducted include Sibongile Khumalo, Jamali, Elvis Blue, Lira and Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
His appetite for bridging the gap between different performance traditions has seen him undertake projects to orchestrate music from multiple genres for Khuli Chana, Kwesta, Maleh, Brenda Mntambo and others.
As a conductor, he has performed with most of the major orchestras in South Africa including the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Free State Symphony Orchestra, Cape Town Pops Orchestra, the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra. His international collaborations include conducting a concert of Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil (2011) as well as conducting the Philharmonia Moments Musicaux from Taiwan (2010).
Since 2013 he has conducted several opera gala concerts, working with such esteemed artists as Sally Silver, Pretty Yende, Noluvuyiso Mpofu, Pumeza Matshikiza, Levy Sekgapane, Golda Schultz and Megan Kahts – all of whom have enjoyed successful international careers.
Kitlwano’s broad musical interests have led him to composing numerous corporate identity themes as well as writing jingles for Takalani Sesame in 2020. In the heritage sector, Masote was the appointed sound designer for the //hapo exhibition of the Freedom Park Museum together with his colleague Rocco de Villiers. He was also a nominee for Best Composer at the Naledi Awards of 2015 and 2016.
Off stage, Masote continues to enjoy a broadcasting career dating back to 1999 mostly at Classic FM and currently presenting Weekend Sundowner Classics on SAfm.
As an arts administrator he has served on the boards of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra. He has also served as chairman of the SAMRO Foundation (2018–2020) and the Arts and Culture Trust (2007). Together with his wife Ma-Setlogelo, they provide customised entertainment solutions for private, corporate and government clients through their entity, Web Maestro.