Madison College’s Big Band heading to Germany

Jamie Kember, Madison College Big Band Director

The Madison College Big Band is hosting a meet and greet on Saturday, April 1 from 7:30 – 10 p.m. at the Mitby Theater. Anyone is welcome to attend the free event and enjoy complimentary drinks and dessert while getting to know the band and hearing some of the repertoire they will perform this coming June during their German Sister Communities Tour.

The band will be touring Germany from June 15-27, deepening connections with Madison’s sister city, Dane County’s sister county, and Wisconsin’s sister state.

Madison’s 30-year relationship with Freiburg provided the initial motivation for the band’s trip to Germany. The Freiburg-Madison Gesellschaft, in collaboration with the Madison-Freiburg Sister City Committee, has invited the Madison College Big Band to perform at Freiburg’s biennial celebration of their sister city relationships on June 23-24, 2017. In addition to outdoor performances celebrating Madison’s sister-city relationship with Freiburg, the band will give master classes and additional performances with three Freiburg area youth jazz orchestras.

Dane County’s German sister county relationship is with Landkreis Kassel. This past October, a jazz trio from the city of Kassel traveled to Madison and performed in several venues, including a joint concert with the Madison College Big Band at Madison College’s Mitby Theater. The concert was well-received and started a congenial relationship between the two jazz ensembles. With the assistance of Landkreis Kassel’s director of public relations, Madison College Big Band will be giving two performances in the city of Kassel.

Wisconsin’s sister-state relationship is with Hessen, the state that includes Kassel. The band will be in Hessen during their annual 10-day state celebration, Hessentag Madison College Big Band will be performing at Hessentag, and will also conduct jazz workshops with a youth jazz orchestra from Hessen.

Madison College is generously supporting the effort, primarily through the Student Life Music Fund. However, more financial support is needed to make the trip a success. Donations will gladly be accepted at the April 1 event.

Madison College Big Band is comprised of degree-credit students and continuing-education adult students. Jamie Kember directs the ensemble. He can be reached at [email protected] with questions.

Photos Provided By Spencer Micka