Brass festival showcases musical talents

Petra Lessoing
Kaiserslautern American


***image1***For the first time, the Ramstein culture center “Haus des Bürgers” sponsors the International Brass and Drum Festival 2005 featuring a diversified program today to June 26.

The festival’s goal is to promote young talents and any kind of music under the motto “brass and drum.”

“Besides music schools and local music associations, young musicians performing under the motto “Brass and Drum” need to be given other options to showcase their talents,” said Andreas Guhmann, project manager of the International Brass and Drum Festival.

“This culture event will be an international one due to the high number of foreign citizens living in Ramstein, the close relationship to Ramstein Air Base with its U.S. and NATO servicemembers and their families, and the vicinity to the French border,” said Mr. Guhmann.

Orchestras and ensembles of other countries will perform to enhance a cultural exchange of local with foreign people.

The female brass quintet Women in Brass opens the festival at 8 p.m. today with a repertory featuring a musical mix from Renaissance to jazz. Tickets cost €8 to 12.

A jazz brunch with the jazz band Viva Créole is 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in the foyer of the Haus des Bürgers. The band presents traditional jazz, swing, blues and modern music. Brunch and admission fee is €15 for adults and €8 for children older than 6.

A children-join concert is given in local kindergartens and elementary schools Tuesday morning. Children are asked to sing along and listen.

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band’s jazz ensemble Check Six performs 8 p.m. Thursday. The bands presents big band jazz from melodic musical successes of the 1940s to modern jazz rock of the 1990s. Proceeds of this charity concert go to schools in Ramstein-Miesenbach to further children interested in music.

***image2***A drum set workshop is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 25. The percussion ensemble Schlagquartett Köln plays special compositions for percussion music at 8 p.m. The members of this quartet also perform as soloists in renowned orchestras. Tickets cost €8 to 12.

Several youth orchestras of regional music associations perform to be judged at 2 p.m. June 26 on Marktplatz (in front of the Haus des Bürgers). The awarding ceremony is at 6 p.m. Musical entertainment is provided by Twintett Vanecek, comprised of a tuba and a trombone player. They present a mix of classical, jazz and South American music.
Stores are open that Sunday afternoon.

For details and tickets to all events, call the culture center’s service office at 06371-592-220 or e-mail HdB@ramstein-miesenbach.de.