Carlo Mombelli tends the seeds of art, music and inspiration
The band leader, composer and professor encourages students to explore their own voices — at their own pace, writes Struan Douglas
In his 40-year career as a bass player, band leader and composer Carlo Mombelli has bridged gaps between genres, musicians, audiences and students. "My whole approach is about bringing art to the institution. Critical thinking in academia is fantastic and very important for our students, but you also need practical artists in the institutions to make the connection between the critical thinking and the performance," he says. "I have an important role to play, making sure the students find some sort of inspiration to perform their music." Mombelli, an associate professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, uses the analogy of a gardener planting seeds. "Everyone is different. The important part is nurturing. Teachers water the seeds with information and knowledge. "What is difficult about an institution and learning music is that the students are expected to arrive at the same place at the same time at the same level — however, everybody is different. Each seed grows at its own p...
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