Music Crossroads Malawi on Monday announced the names of three young artists set to go for the annual Musicians and Organisers Volunteer Exchange (Move) programme in Norway and Brazil.
This follows a selection process that included auditions and interviews.
The three artists are Precious Kwenje (Brazil) and Maggie Kudambo and Happy Theo Shaba (Norway).
Music Crossroads Malawi Director Mathews Mfune said yesterday that the selection process started with a shortlist of nine candidates before coming up with the three.
While the previous editions have seen Music Crossroads Malawi sending four representatives with two each for Brazil and Norway, Mfune said this time around they have three slots.
“This edition they reduced the numbers to 10 for the three countries hence us getting three slots and then we will also welcome artists from Brazil and Norway,” he said.
The three artists are expected to leave the country in February next year.
The Move international cultural exchange and capacity building programme has proved instrumental in shaping young artists in several areas including stage management and its goal is to foster cross-cultural skill-sharing, leadership, community development and professional music growth.
Meanwhile, Music Crossroads Malawi has also started preparations for Nkhongono Za Sumu Band which is set to tour Belgium after coming out top in the Imagine Music Experience and Competition in July this year.
The four member group made up of students from Music Crossroads Malawi will represent the country in Brussels, Belgium in December this year, where it will tussle with bands from other countries.
“We are processing their visas at the moment and we are looking forward to them representing Malawi on the global stage,” Mfune said.
The band leaves the country on December 4 and will return on December 13.
Imagine Music Experience and Competition is designed to identify, nurture, and promote young musicians by providing opportunities for performance, cultural exchange and artistic collaboration.
This event is part of a global programme run by Jeunesses Musicales International.
Apart from Malawi, other bands will come from Mozambique and Zimbabwe.