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Auditions 2017/2018 – September 13th – Sign up now!

We seek talented and enthusiastic new players for the Groningen Student Big Band for the 2017/2018 season. We have openings in the rhythm section, for one vocalist, and in the brass and reed sections (trumpet, trombone and saxophone). If you are interested in auditioning for this year’s Groningen Student Big Band – please sign up now by emailing our director k.a.mcgee@rug.nl for a slot. We ask that you prepare one jazz piece of your choice. You will also be asked to sight read one short jazz part.

May 14th – Swing at the Silo with the Groningen Student Big Band & Let’s Swing

Together with Let’s Swing – The Groningen Student Big Band presents Swing at the Silo on May 14th at 15:00 for an afternoon of dancing (lindy, boogie woogie, charleston – take your pick), swing music, and frivolous festivity.

Bring your friends and family and strap on your hoofing shoes for this 4th annual spring ritual as we celebrate the social jazz dance tradition which first arose in the 1920s in Harlem and Chicago during the great Jazz Age and has erupted again and again throughout the world since its inception.

In three sets of music, we feature two unique vocalists (Hyewon Jung and Kelsey Breure) and music from the 1930s to the 1950s including works of the great dance bands of Basie, Herman, Miller, Ellington, Hampton; vocal features recorded by the amazing Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Julie London and a few lesser known arrangements from the Terri Gibbs Dream Big Band and Bennie Carter’s big band.

We hope to see you there.

Where: De Silo, Achterweg 47, Groningen

When: Sunday 15:00-19:00

How Much: 5 Euros

Groningen Student Big Band plays Music Matters March 17th – 13:00

Friday March 17th the Groningen Student Big Band performs a lunch time concert of swing and jazz for the Music Matters series at the University of Groningn. We feature our two vocalists Hyewon Jung and Kelsey Breure. We invite you to get some coffee, bring a lunch and join us for some great music at the end of your busy week!

Where: Harmony Cantine – Oude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat 26

When: 13:00

Tickets: FREE

Groningen Student Big Band is looking for new members on piano, trombone and trumpet for our Spring semester. Contact us at info@groningenstudentbigband.nl for an audition.

Groningen Student Big Band Winter Concert – 14 Dec. 2016

screen-shot-2016-12-09-at-09-49-55The Groningen Student Big Band plays their first concert of the year with lots of new members from the university and conservatory. We break out charts from the 1930s to the 1960s – from swing to cool jazz. We’ll throw in a little holiday ditty for good measure. Come out, dance, drink and be merry with the GSBB.

When: Wednesday, December 14th, 2016

What Time: 20:45

Where: Jazzcafé De Spieghel

Address: Peperstraat 11, 9711 PC Groningen

 

Auditions Groningen Student Big Band 2016-2017

2016 GSBB audition poster

We are accepting auditions for the 2016/2017 Groningen Student Big Band. We encourage anyone who ambitions to play and perform in a high level big band to audition including rhythm section instrumentalists, trumpets, trombones, saxophones and vocalists. The big band rehearses once a week and also performs several times throughout the year. However, the Spring is our busiest concert and gig season. After three exciting years of playing, socializing, improvising and performing in and around Groningen, GSBB is excited for another fun year of great jazz music.

Auditions will be held on Wednesday September 21st starting at 17:00. Please email the director Kristin McGee at k.a.mcgee@rug.nl for an appointment.

Battle of the Bands – April 24th – Silo

24-3-16 Silo_4Jazz culture has long stimulated both fierce competition and intimate musical camaraderie. In the 1930s and 1940s, battle of the bands competitions attracted the most ardent fans and showiest musical acts. Participants chose the winners by dancing the most ecstactically or clapping the loudest. Together with Lets Swing, help us stir up a little European competition as the Groningen Student Big Band takes on the Big Band of Universite Libre du Bruxelles at Groningen’s home of big band swing and dancing – the Silo.