A unique master’s programme in cooperation with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, the hr-Bigband.
Deepen your jazz studies. Work with a first-class ensemble, its excellent musicians and other international experts, and determine the focus of your education yourself. In the winter semester of 2022/23, we will introduce a unique master's programme that will enrich artistic jazz education in Germany. Our partner is the hr-Bigband – one of the world's most renowned ensembles of its kind.
Three focal points, one network
You apply for one of the three main areas of study: playing in, writing for, or conducting a big band. You’ll be working with classic big bands and innovative large ensembles and on projects in both the professional world and educational environments. Through the close connection to the hr-Bigband you will gain immediate, real-world experience in the field of high end jazz ensembles.
Work phases, concerts, productions
The cooperation between the HfMDK and the hr-Bigband makes it possible to offer a wide range of courses that build bridges to the professional world: Regular work phases of several weeks, concerts, and studio productions, are an integral part of the curriculum from the first semester on.
You’ll be able to construct an individual course of study that allows for the pursuit of your personal areas of interest. In addition to individual lessons and mentoring, we’ll enable you to connect with artists worldwide. You will be schooled in self-marketing and learn the skills required for successful project management. Further, you will be supported in your own projects by the members of both the HfMDK and the hr-Bigband and will gain experience in music education. And you will become part of the vibrant jazz network in the Rhine-Main region!
All students acquire competencies in all three areas. However, the aptitude tests must be taken in only one of these areas. In this way, applicants can present themselves with their strengths.
Learning from your own heroes!
As part of the Master's programme, students are entitled to over 20 hours of tuition with external experts in their field. These lessons can be individually tailored in consultation with the study programme director: as distance learning, as a studio visit, as additional regular lessons or even as a supplement during a trip - the number of experts is not limited. And of course: the international guest artists of the hr- Bigband can also be requested for these lessons.
A highlight of the course are the work phases with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. The students are part of the band and take part in a two-week production under professional conditions, including recording and concert. The artistic direction and the musical material change from semester to semester.
An ensemble with variable instrumentation for jazz students from the Universities of Music in Mainz and Frankfurt as well as guests. The leadership rotates between teachers from the two universities. Arrangements and compositions by students can and should also be the focus here.
The students of the MA Bigband are offered a performance date for their own formations by the Milchsackfabrik within the framework of its event series " Jazz in der Milchsackfabrik" 6 times a year. Starting in 2024, the performance opportunities will also be supplemented by Frankfurt's largest jazz association "Jazz Initiative Frankfurt" with a total of 4 performance dates for our students in their extensive jazz program.
- Bigband direction, jazz composition and jazz arrangement: Hendrika Entzian, Prof. Stefan Karl Schmid
- tp: Martin Auer, Frank Wellert, Axel Schlosser, Thomas Vogel
- tb: Felix Fromm, Günter Bollmann, Robert Hedemann, Christian Jaksjø
- sax: Denis Gäbel, Rainer Heute, Oliver Leicht, Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn, Steffen Weber
- rhythm: Hans Glawischnig, Paul Höchstädter, Martin Scales, Sebastian Scobel
The MA Bigband – for players, writers and conductors is supported by the Ernst Max von Grunelius Foundation, by the Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt, by the Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank) and by the Society of friends and supporters of the hr-Bigband e.V.