The winners of the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters 2000 national talent search performed alongside a star-studded line-up at a gala event, held at Vodaworld in November 2000. Channel O brings you this spectacular event in a one-hour special on January 21 at 20h00.

The Old Mutual Jazz Encounters 2000 national talent search began in April last year. A panel of judges consisting of Sibongile Khumalo, Jack van Poll, Don Albert, Dizu Plaatjies and Sipho Gumede sifted, listened and adjudicated the many entries received. Regional winners in each of the three categories - Jazz, Afro Jazz, and Vocal - were announced to complete the first stage.

These regional winners then performed in a series of Regional Showcases called Hot, Live & Otherwise before the judges began the national adjudications, to select the three national winners as well as the winners of a number of extra awards. The competition culminated in a glitzy awards ceremony featuring top South African jazz stars Jimmy Dludlu and Moses Taiwa Molelekwa.

Included in the national winners vocal category was Xolisa Gqoli Dlamini of Durban.