“The Quintessentials” is a dynamic jazz and contemporary a capella vocal group that was formed by Miss Monique Hellenberg (Lecturer in Jazz & Contemporary Voice – Nelson Mandela University) in 2023. Their repertoire includes often complex, yet entertaining arrangements of jazz standards, gospel and popular music.
Having begun with five members, it received its very apt name from one of the founding group members, Tuan Thalla. Our current six members are NMU music students who predominantly take voice as their second instrument. They are, namely: Hannah Barth (Soprano), Lynette Gravett (Alto 1), Khanyisile Skade (Alto 2), Caleb Zola (Tenor), Tuan Thalla (Baritone/Bass), Mmangaliso Mtshali (bass) and Mark Phelps (Beatboxer).
This vocal ensemble has become a regular feature at Nelson Mandela University Music Department lunch hour concerts at South Campus Auditorium and has branched out to perform at the Clarendon Jazz Spectacular Event 2024, which was streamed live and subsequently posted to YouTube. Their latest performance arranged by the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day Foundation, took place at “The Hugest Happiness Blanket in the World” event at NMU Sports Centre and has been their biggest performance yet!
To view their performance at Clarendon on 24th August 2024, please watch from 1:24:24 on the following link of the Clarendon Jazz Extravaganza 2024: https://www.youtube.com/live/ACGJ58q779M?si=F5qMSKtF_TofkVBC.