Wayne Purchase

Wayne Purchase is a sought after pianist, accompanist and band member for productions and corporate events locally and abroad.  He has performed in the UK, Spain, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Seychelles, and across southern Africa.

Wayne started to play music from the age of six, winning prestigious music competitions throughout his schooling.  He trained in classical piano during his high school years and went on to study jazz piano at Pretoria Technikon, South Africa (now known as Tswane University of Technology) and completed his National Diploma in 1995.

After his studies he worked as a musical director and pianist for The Peoples Theatre, Johannesburg (1996) on such family musicals such as "Jungle Book", "Mr. Men", "Aladdin", "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Cinderella". Thereafter he worked as a pianist for the Balalaika and The Michelangelo hotels in Sandton, South Africa, for one year. During this time he also composed the music and performed in the educational musical "The Good Luck Gnome" at the Windybrow Theatre, Johannesburg.

In 1998 he relocated to London and undertook several international contracts as a member of a jazz duo in Marbella Spain, the Le Meridian Hotel in Bahrain (now known as The Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa), The Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton in Abu Dhabi and The Ritz Carlton in Dubai. During these tenures he performed for the international jet set society of politicians; members of the British, European and Middle Eastern royal families; and celebrities of film, television, fashion and music.

After five and half years abroad Wayne returned to South Africa in 2003. He performed with the Barnyard Theatre productions of "Glory Days", "Forever Young" and "The 60's Revolution" throughout South Africa and Mauritius for two years. During this time he also played at The Saxon and The Michelangelo hotels. In May 2005 he went to the Seychelles and performed at events for the premier of Seychelles and visiting Middle Eastern delegates. He is accompanist for well-known vocalists and instrumentalists and has performed in such cabarets such as the "Doo Waah Boys", "Money Mania" in Johannesburg, "Down to Eartha" at the Loft at the Natal Playhouse, Durban and "The Best of Broadway" in Dubai.

Wayne has performed for some of South Africa's most prominent companies and financial institutions, including Lexus, Coca Cola, Nissan, First National Bank, Nedbank, Absa, Rotary International, The Carousal, Gold Reef City Casino, Alcatel, Kagiso Trust (with celebrity guests Samuel L Jackson, Alfre Woodward, and CC Pounder, to name a few.

In addition to his national diploma in music, Wayne has a national diploma in human resources management and a degree in higher education from the University of Johannesburg. He teaches music at St Mary's School for Girls in Waverly, Johannesburg.