ARTISTIC
DIRECTION
COMPOSITIONAL COLLABORATION,
SONG TEXTS
Benjamin Weidekamp (*1977) has lived in Berlin since 1999, where he studied saxophone/clarinet and composition.
For almost 25 years he has dedicated himself to contemporary jazz with numerous ensembles of his own, ranging from trio to extended big band. In doing so, he passionately embraces eclecticism and playfully incorporates influences that may at first seem contradictory – jazz, serial music, microtonal music, hip-hop, indie pop, indigenous music, improvised music. His work is documented on over 20 recordings. Since 2015, Benjamin Weidekamp has been intensively engaged in his compositional work with the current issues and challenges of our time, not leaving out socio-political positions. The projects “Filter Bubble”, “Die Ernte”, “Brigade Futur III” as well as the “Bottom Orchestra” bear witness to this. The collective development and implementation of artistic ideas is central to all of the projects mentioned.
www.benjaminweidekamp.de
Michael Haves (*1978) lives as a composer, musician and producer in Berlin.
As a jazz double bassist he played the republic for years before he founded the alternative band SUPER700 in 2003 and toured the world. He writes music for theater, film and radio plays and is a producer for jazz and alternative pop acts. In 2017, he founded the big band BRIGADE FUTUR 3 with friends.
www.michaelhaves.de
COACHING
In addition to the work with the musical leadership team, the musicians of the JJO are regularly coached during rehearsals by internationally active coaches such as Jérôme Bugnon, Hayden Chisholm, Yumi Ito and Almut Kühne. In this way, the JJO always receives new and inspiring impulses from outside.
ORGANISATION
Ulla Westvik
Management
Since 2021, JUGENDJAZZORCHESTER.CH has been organised as an association. The administrative office is headed by Ulla Westvik. Amelie Sester is responsible for communications, while Jonas Lusti manages the orchestra’s social media channels.
The board consists of Kaspar von Grünigen (President), Regula Frei, Laurence Dezarzens, Luca Koch, and Mattia Facchini. Together, they are committed to the strategic development of the association.
JUGENDJAZZORCHESTER.CH is funded through project grants from the Federal Office of Culture’s Fund for the Promotion of Music Education, as well as through the support of private foundations.
