Candice Thornton

Candice Thornton has been described as the sultry, velvety jazz vocalist of her generation. Her love for jazz began at the age of 16 while attending South Peninsula High School, where she became the lead vocalist of the school’s jazz band. From those early beginnings, her voice quickly became recognised for its depth, richness, and emotional resonance.

In 2011, Candice majored in Vocals at the Cape Music Institute, refining her technical skill and stage presence. Just a year later, at age 22, she won the prestigious Open Mic Jazz Vocal Competition hosted by GrandWest Casino. This defining moment solidified her place as one of Cape Town’s rising jazz talents.

Throughout her career, Candice has shared the stage with internationally acclaimed artists such as Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Tevin Campbell, Karyn White, and Judy Boucher. She has also collaborated with respected South African performers including Salome, Alistair Izobel, Chad Saaiman, Loukmaan Adams, and Emo Adams.

Beyond performance, Candice is deeply passionate about nurturing talent. She founded her own Vocal Academy and lectured at the Cape Music Institute from 2020 to 2022, teaching performance, vocal training, ensemble work, and songwriting and empowering the next generation of artists to find their voice with confidence and authenticity.

Candice continues to captivate audiences with her smooth tone, commanding stage presence, and heartfelt delivery bringing timeless jazz standards and contemporary soul interpretations to life with elegance and soul.