"Eleven professional musicians from Germany, Austria and the USA banded together to form “Archipelago Project” with the aim of teaching brass repertoire from their varied cultural circles. One of the founders is Armin Häfner, trumpet teacher at the Igensdorfer Music School (in Germany), who organized this guest performance in Oberfranken. The musicians began with a rousing brass introduction. They then demonstrated how Archipelago’s American group members, primarily Jazz musicians, learned to play Polka from their European colleagues. Performing an array of stylistic pieces, the group displayed all the virtues one expects from a fine brass ensemble. Using children from the audience as the rhythm section, the group played everything from jazz to funk to soul and cross-over music. Glorious, dynamic sound interchanged seamlessly with syncopated bass lines and accented brass statements. Audience members gladly participated throughout the performance until Archipelago left the stage playing their final piece, which was met with thunderous applause."
Nordbayerische Nachrichten; March 28-29, 2009.
"...storm clouds threatened and there was a strong wind off Boardman Lake, but that didn't deter the large, enthusiastic and appreciative audience from enjoying an over-the-top performance... Their presentations were very entertaining, and the talented musicians are very personable. --we have already booked them for an August 2005 performance." Traverse City Public Library.
School Outreach :"The show was absolutely amazing and showed how students, through ths musical association, were able to raise their expectations, internalize their music use their newly acquired performance techniques. Every student came to me and told me how important this activity was to them and in at least three cases, "how it changed their life." Bravo!
Joseph A. Olzacki, Ed. D., The Bloomfield Public Schools, Bloomfield, CT.
Read the Full: [Bloomfield Review]
"Bringing in the Archipelago Ensemble was a great opportunity for our students. Their musicianship is superb, and the music they played for us, from Renaissance to jazz to classic rock, exhibited their versatility...Students thoroughly enjoyed listening to such a variety of music from professional musicians..." Joseph McInchack, Director of Bands. Farmington High School-Farmington, MI.
"Your artistry appeals to all: young, old, and otherwise..........They may not remember exactly what you told or showed them, but they will never forget how you made them feel about themselves and about music.
You guys are "the real thing".
Read the full: [Traverse City East Middle School Review]
"As a high school band director, I am always looking for ways to provide my students with musical experiences that will allow the deepest amount of growth and enrichment." I was therefore pleased to have the opportunity to host the Archipelago Project for a week long residency in March, 2005. From the moment that the members of Archipelago first took the podium to conduct master classes, their presence made an immediate impact upon our students....The quality of instruction that occurred here during the Archipelago residency was fantastic........The final event performance was a total success..." Gregory Whitmore- Director of Bands, Cathedral City High School, Cathedral City, CA.
Read the Full [Cathedral City High School Review]
