Naledi Masilo—vocalist, teaching artist, and founder of the Dreaming Girls Foundation—is our 2022 Black History Month guest artist.

She's making her mark in the global jazz scene, as a top three finalist in each of the following: the Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition, the Dolo Coker Jazz Competition, and the Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition. She was a resident at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., through Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Program, where she was mentored by Dee Dee Bridgewater and Jason Moran.

Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, Naledi cultivated her love for music through backyard jam sessions and endless artistic curiosity. Naledi’s music is anchored in her exploration of black stories, the jazz tradition, and the sounds of her African heritage. She believes that music has been gifted to the world as a tool to move lives and urge hearts to take action.