HfMT Big Band: THE SHAPE WE MAKE

On November 9, 2026, the Cologne University of Music and Dance Big Band, under the direction of Theresia Philipp, will present a program at the Stadtgarten featuring works by contemporary female composers who view the big band as a compositional medium of the 21st century.

The program will feature compositions by Maria Schneider, Miho Hazama, Cassie Kinoshi, and other national and international voices from the current large-ensemble scene. Their music combines orchestral thinking with improvisation, works with timbres, textures, and unusual forms, and expands the possibilities of the jazz orchestra beyond traditional big band concepts.

The program is part of the La Cité des Dames series. The program selection was co-curated with input from the Diversity Working Group of Department 6. The selected works offer diverse perspectives on writing for large ensembles—ranging from finely crafted soundscapes to complex rhythmic structures and open improvisational concepts.