Track Five

Members

Esperanzia Swartz (Soprano)

Espi, youngest member of Track Five, was a high achiever at school who shone especially in music and the arts.  She completed a Diploma in Jazz Studies at UCT College of Music, majoring in Vocals, in 2008, and in the same year she performed at the International Jazz Festival as backing vocalist for Leslie Kleinsmith and her band the Mother City Grooves.

Amy Larter (1st Alto)

Born and bred in East London, Amy obtained her Bachelor of Music Degree (BMus) in Jazz Performance at the University of Cape Town in 2007. She has received several musical awards including 1st place in the Eastern Cape Vodacom Youth Music Competition (vocal section) in 2002 and a 1st place in the East London vocal eisteddfod in 2003, and her name was on the Dean’s Merit List  (UCT) 2004-2007. This enthusiastic, talented singer performs regularly as a lead vocalist as well as doing backing vocals.

Danelle de Vries (2nd Alto)

Danelle has an Hons Diploma in Musical Theatre: Singing, Dance, Acting, Stage-craft, and was a Top 10 Finalist in the KykNet Afrikaans Idols Competition 2006, as well as a finalist in the Vodacom / Burger Plusster competition. Danelle has worked with top South African artists, including Amanda Strydom, Nataniël, Mynie Grove, Errol and Alvin Dyers and the late Taliep Petersen. Her songs reached the finals of the ATKV Crescendo songwriting competition for two consecutive years. In 2007 she produced her own original album: “Danelle de Vries – Net vir die Mooi”.

Gavin Fullard (Baritone / Arranger / Director)

With an extensive choral background, and inspired by the ensemble sounds of the Big Bands and vocal groups of the forties, Gavin developed a passion for arranging, in particular for Jazz Vocal Groups. During the sixties he worked with vocal groups during a five-year spell of teaching in the U.K. and in America. On returning to South Africa he formed his own vocal group, Tangerine, in 1975. After 18 years of radio, TV and cabaret work, he disbanded Tangerine and in 1995 formed the new group, Track Five. Gavin was also a lecturer at UCT College of Music: Jazz Vocal Ensemble 1997 and 2005-7.

Dónal Slemon (Bass)

Dónal, who has been Track Five's Bass voice for almost ten years, has over 25 years' professional experience as a Singer and Actor on stage, screen, radio, concert platforms and in various jazz venues. His repertoire encompasses all branches of the performing arts from Opera and Lieder to Musicals, Children's Theatre, Jazz, Cabaret, Film and TV. In between he has also sung with well-known A Cappella group 'Not the Midnight Mass', with whom he performed in 2006 in the Musical 'Noah of Cape Town'. Dónal's other main motivation for singing is a strong belief in the uplifting and healing value of music.