Stories

On 5 February 2020, the Raffles Symphonic Band (RSB) and Raffles Jazz played host to the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Gustavus Jazz Ensemble, faculty and staff members from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. This brief yet memorable exchange saw musicians from vastly different musical and cultural backgrounds coming together to perform for and with each other.
 
After welcoming the Gustavus students, members of RSB split into sectionals to work on ensemble pieces, such as Victor Ewald’s Brass Quintet no. 1, Satoshi Yagisawa’s Triple Scoop Ice Cream and Bohemian Rhapsody. These rehearsals led up to a showcase at two Lecture Theatres, thus allowing musicians to showcase their talents and unique playing styles.
 




Over at the Performing Arts Centre, Raffles Jazz  and members of the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble quite literally took front and centre stage, as both groups kick-started the event by performing jazz standards and arrangements for each other. The exchange then morphed into a more informal jamming session that ran the comprehensive gamut of jazz sub-genres; from groovy swing songs like All Of Me, to the energetic bossa nova tunes of Chega de Saudade and The Girl From Ipanema - and even touching on the contemporary funk of The Roy Hargrove Quintet's Strausbourg / St Denis.
 
As a highlight and culmination of the exchange, Gustavus members were given a tour of the Year 5-6 school campus, which provided greater opportunities for both parties to “interact and share their school life experiences with each other” - a highlight of the exchange as quoted by a RSB member.
 
Overall, the exchange was an eye-opener for both parties, and a rare opportunity for the both band and jazz members to perform in a more relaxed small group setting. It was certainly an enriching experience and we look forward to further musical collaborations in the future.


Raffles Symphonic Band (RSB) and Raffles Jazz together with the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and Gustavus Jazz Ensemble.