A date at Carnegie Hall - the Big Apple calls for UQ Big Band

Carnegie Hall and Central Park in New York, and Disneyland in Los Angeles, are among the venues the University of Queensland Big Band will play next year on its first international tour.

Band director Clint Allen said the United States tour was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the musicians.

“In addition to  performing at iconic venues and gaining international performance experience, our band members will be educated by some of the world’s best jazz artists,” he said.

The band will tour Los Angeles, San Diego and New York from 4-16 April, and will work with jazz musicians including Grammy-winning saxophonist Bob Mintzer, Victor Goines from the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra, and world-renowned trumpeter Randy Brecker.

It will also perform with Gordon Goodwin’s Grammy-award winning Big Phat Band.

Band member and UQ alumnus Andrew Saragossi said he looked forward to practising and performing alongside jazz greats.

“The artists we will get to work with are pretty amazing,” Mr Saragossi said. 

“You can get a long way in the jazz world but you still might never get to work alongside the jazz musicians who we will work with on this tour.”

Big Band vocalist and UQ student Geordie McGrath said he never envisaged himself as part of the band, let alone touring the world.

“I only got involved in the band because my friend was working on the stall at Market Day,” Mr McGrath said.

“It was being at the right place at the right time.

“I never imagined I’d end up performing somewhere amazing like Carnegie Hall.”

The UQ Big Band was established in 2007 and comprises students and alumni from across UQ.

“The musicians are beyond excited for their first international tour,” Mr Allen said.

“The band has been building its repertoire and reputation for years, and we’re really honoured to be able to share our music overseas.”

The band will perform at a USA tour fundraising dinner at 7pm Saturday 7 November at the Tavernetta Function Centre, Carseldine. Click here to book tickets and for more information about the event.

Media: Andrew Saragossi, andrew.saragossi@gmail.com, 0405 508 518.