Unique international big band workshop in Mongolia with jazz students from the HMTM

From 25 August to 8 September 2024, six students from our Jazz Institute travelled to Mongolia for a unique international big band workshop. Together with students from eight different countries, Robin Henn (Jazz Vocals), Loni Lipp (Jazz E-Bass), Raul Graf (Jazz Guitar), Sebastian Kölbl (Jazz Trumpet), Khasar Ganbaatar and Edi May (Jazz Saxophone) formed a big band, with which they went on to perform six sold-out concerts in the Mongolian capital.

The workshop involved an intensive week-long rehearsal period in Selenge Aimag, a province in northern Mongolia. This year, students from Austria, Australia, Mongolia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, Slovenia and South Africa took part.

The diversity of the participants enriched the musical exchange and created a creative atmosphere that enabled the students to develop both as solo musicians and as part of an ensemble during their daily rehearsals. The workshop culminated in six sold-out concerts at the renowned Fat Cat Jazz Club in Ulan Bator.

Prof. Martin Zenker, staff for internationalisation and international cooperation at the Jazz Institute and lecturer in Jazz Double Bass: »The 2024 International Big Band Workshop was not only an intense musical experience, but also an extraordinary experience for everyone involved. The participants had the chance to broaden their musical horizons, develop new skills and forge valuable connections within the global music community.«

The international big band workshop organised by the Blue Sky Messengers, a European-Mongolian youth jazz orchestra, took place for the third time in 2024. The workshop was under the musical direction of Prof. Steffen Schorn (Nuremberg University of Music) and Prof. Klemens Marktl (Gustav Mahler Private University of Music, Klagenfurt), and was organised by Mandukhai Tugstogtokh (JazzLab NGO, Mongolia) and Prof. Martin Zenker. In addition to funding from the participating universities, the exchange was also supported by the Goethe-Institut in Germany, the »Österreichisches Kulturforum Peking« and the »Gassner Stiftung Hamburg«.