Big Band Night

In the organizer's words:

Versatile, innovative and modern! In 2025, the Saxony-Anhalt State Youth Big Band presents a program that breaks down genre boundaries. Classical big band sound meets contemporary arrangements of current jazz greats. The focus will be on compositions and works by pianist Johanna Summer and trombonist and singer Antonia Hausmann. A special highlight: the two internationally successful musicians will perform together with the band at the concerts in Leipzig and Magdeburg. Compositions by band members will also be presented at the concerts. With their concerts, the band combines tradition and experimentation and helps to shape the sound of a young jazz scene. Their energy and enthusiasm are quickly transferred to the audience.

The Saxony-Anhalt State Youth Big Band is made up of young musicians who have successfully taken part in the Makin' Jazz workshop or the Jugend jazzt competition. They meet twice a year to rehearse the current program. The pieces presented on the tour as part of this year's Saxony-Anhalt Youth Music Festival include "Teleidoscope" and "Keep On" by Antonia Hausmann and "You Know The Drill" and "Day Dreamer" by Johanna Summer. There will also be compositions from the band's own ranks: "Apatura Iris" by alto saxophonist Karl Anton Dürrwald and "Choose" by trombonist Leonore Lorek.

Ralf Hesse is the musical director of the big band. He studied jazz trumpet in Cologne and composition/arrangement in Mannheim.

In addition to concerts at Michaelstein Monastery in the summer, the Landesjugendbigband also performed at the Women in Jazz festival in May this year.

More information about the Landesjugendbigband: www.jugendmusikfest.de/ensembles/landesjugendbigband