Nokuthula Ngwenyama has established herself as a multifaceted artist and collaborator in her roles as both violist and composer, performing as an orchestral soloist, recitalist and chamber musician.

Her compositions have been performed by leading orchestras and chamber ensembles in North America, Africa and Asia.  The New York Times called her 2020 orchestral work, Primal Message, “a more emotive version of the [1974] Arecibo message sent into space," and it continues to be performed by orchestras around the world. In July, it was presented at the Music Academy of the West, conducted by Xian Zhang, who will also conduct the South American premiere in September in Brazil; other conductors present the work several times throughout the season (dates below).  In March, Ngwenyama returns to the Phoenix Chamber Music Society for a program titled “Composer’s Choice,” which features the composer on viola with the Los Angeles Piano Trio (program TBA).

In spring 2027, Ngwenyama’s work Miasma, written in 2020 and premiered during the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2021), will be included on Bella Hristova’s forthcoming album, Lineage, on Azica Records.

This summer, Ngwenyama served as a guest artist on the Juilliard Summer Music Faculty in composition. She also attended the Women’s Audio Mission Summer Accelerated Academy, part of an initiative dedicated to the advancement of women and gender-expansive people in music/audio production and creative technology.

NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA
2026-2027 SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS

August 28, 2026 / Colchester, Vermont
Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival
Espressivo! Piano Quartet
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Joy Steppin’
More information

September 3-5, 2026 / São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra / Xian Zhang Conductor
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Primal Message
More information: Sep 3 | Sep 4 | Sep 5

December 1, 2026 / Walla Walla, Washington (Whitman College)
Walla Walla Symphony / Dina Gilbert, Conductor
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Primal Message
More information

January 13, 2027 / Tucson, Arizona
Arizona Chamber Music Society
Espressivo! Piano Quartet
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Joy Steppin’
More information

February 6, 2027 / Kansas City, Missouri
Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City
Espressivo! Piano Quartet
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Joy Steppin’
More information

March 20, 2027 / Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Chamber Music Society: “Composer's Choice”
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA, VIOLA, and the Los Angeles Piano Trio 
Program TBA
More information

April 29 & May 1, 2027 / Naples, Florida
Naples Philharmonic / Alexander Shelley, Conductor
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Primal Message
More information

May 22 & 23, 2027 / Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown Symphony / Diane Wittry, Conductor
NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA Primal Message
More information