Cuban virtuoso finds second home in Polokwane

Arianna Cana Mackenzie is fast becoming a popular and well known face in local music circles and will be entertaining guests at Mugg&Bean Mall of the North on Women’s Day next Wednesday.
The peace and quiet of the bushveld is where the Cuban musician, finds her soul and the opportunity to express her creativity and this is why she makes the most of her annual visits to Polokwane. She loves the beat of South African music and her musical role model is Miriam Makeba, South African singer, actor and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. “She had a way of interpreting the music that brought new dimensions to the melodies,” she says.
Cana Mackenzie’s parents have been residents of the city, where her father is a medical practitioner, for years and the 29-year-old visits them for a few months every year. While in Polokwane she likes to work with local musicians and help teach the younger players of the Limpopo Youth Orchestra.
“I also love to work on my compositions and playing the tenor saxophone, which is like a hobby for me. I am actually classically trained in the clarinet and flute, but I enjoy the challenges of the tenor saxophone, which is self taught,” she says.
The resident of Havana has a very impressive background in music including a degree in music from the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte (University of Arts of Cuba) and receiving tenure as Professor of music at the National School of Music in Havana, which makes it possible for her to travel as often as needed to perfect her art.
She is the first chair clarinet Concert Master for the Cuban Radio and Television Institute Orchestra (RTVCo) where she also plays the tenor saxophone when needed. This orchestra has the legal capacity of association with foreign producers in any variant or format and does a lot of work for European production companies.
As accomplished classical musician, Cana Mackenzie loves to play jazz whenever she can and believes there is much room to grow for women in jazz. “Women usually prefer to play keys or to stick to vocals. It is not often that you will see women on bass or winds and I believe we have to encourage young girls to try their hand at these instruments too. We are too conditioned to choose piano or violin for girls because we believe that is what they should play,” is her opinion.
She encourages parents of children who do not want to practice their musical instruments to keep spurring the budding musicians on. “When I was a child, I hated practising and lessons. I had a Russian teacher who was very strict. My parents gently pushed me to continue with my studies and it was only as 20-year-old at university when I discovered my true love for music. I realised that I could never live without music,” she says, crediting her musical family for her talent and achievements.
For more information or to book a performance, Cana Mackenzie can be contacted on 061 393 3219 or 076 450 5210.

Story and photo: MARKI FRANKEN
>>marki.observer@gmail.com