Summary (TL;DR)

Career Origin: In 2007, Diale followed a deep personal calling to pursue music, starting from beat-making and moving into formal studies in classical and jazz music.

Formal Training: Despite no prior training, he studied music at university, eventually earning two master’s degrees in composition—one from Wits and the other from Oxford.

Gratitude & Influence: His development was shaped by supportive institutions like Wits’ foundation music programme and the Oxford Ertegun Scholarship.

Gourmet Music: Inspired by his journey, Diale founded Gourmet Music to promote musical literacy in South Africa.

Mission: He’s passionate about helping people—especially young musicians—gain creative freedom and deeper musical understanding through the power of notation and literacy.

The Path Less Travelled

This journey took me to places I never imagined—participating in festivals and residencies both locally and abroad, and hearing my music performed by some of the world’s most gifted musicians. It culminated in two master’s degrees in music composition: one from Wits University and another from the University of Oxford.

I’m especially grateful to the Wits Music Department for its foundation programme in music literacy, which provides access for students who show musical aptitude but lack formal training, enabling them to eventually enter the degree track. I also acknowledge the Faculty of Music at Oxford and the Mica and Ahmed Ertegun Scholarship Program for selecting me to be part of one of Oxford’s flagship initiatives in the area of the Humanities, and also for giving me the opportunity to study at one of the world’s leading universities.

Gourmet Music

Shaped by all these experiences, I decided to create ‘Gourmet Music’ to help foster a common culture of musical literacy in South Africa. The ability to read and write musical notation—often undervalued—is a powerful tool for creative freedom, collaboration, and personal development. Much like learning a new language, it broadens one’s capacity for self-expression and cultural engagement.

It is my desire to share this gift—helping everyday people gain a deeper access to the beauty of music as an art form in addition to helping budding young musicians unlock their full creative potential, all through musical literacy. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your skills, Gourmet Music is here to help kickstart and/or support your journey. At its core, music is a language—it makes sense that we embrace the opportunity to speak it fluently.