Curators
Sigi Feigl
In the 1980ies Feigl studied classical clarinet and jazz-saxophone at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where he began teaching himself from 1989 onwards. He also founded the Big Band Süd in the 80ies, which became the core for the Jazz Bigband Graz in 1999. His admiration for his hometown reflects in his commitment in cultural areas. He was the founder of the symphony orchestra Leibnitz and is currently the head of “Kultur in Leibnitz”. For his merits in the field of music he has been awarded with “Das Große Ehrenzeichen des Landes Steiermark” an official decoration of the Austrian federal state Styria in 2011. Internationally he is organising jazz-workshops for the younger generation.
Georg Gratzer
Calling the Eastern Styrian multi instrumentalist a “world musician” would be immensely understated. After completing his studies in jazz-saxophone at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz the founder of various musical ensembles was exploring international destinations like New York, London, India, China and South America. From his trips he didn’t just bring back the knowledge about various musical traditions but also heaps of widely unknown instruments. Even though he travelled the world touring with bands like Beefolk, Trio de Janeiro or the Jazztett Forum Graz, he still has his centre in the Eastern Styrian village Floing.
Oliver Mally
The autodidact has been influenced by legends such as Albert King, Buddy Guy or John Lee Hooker. He performs mostly his own compositions, but a presentable selection of the history of blues can also be found in his repertoire and give an impression of his stylistic diversity. In 1990 he formed his band “Sir Oliver Mally’s Blues Distillery” and played with artists like Louisiana Red, Steve James and Sugar Blue. The album “A Hard Night’s Day” was awarded “Blues Album of the Year 2007” by the German magazine Blues News Germany. In 2011 he curated the festival “Blues and more …” at the Kasematten on the Schlossberg in Graz.
Günther Meinhart, Programme
By the end of the 70ies he founded the internationally renowned Studio Percussion Graz, in 1981 the Orchesterforum. Between 1985 and 87 he was director of the department of music at the Forum Stadtpark and since 1995 he teaches at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. His musical collaborations range from the Austrian Art Ensemble, to the EAV, to Christian and Wolfgang Muthspiel. For the ORF, the Bühnen Graz and the Landestheater Salzburg he has also worked as a composer.
Serbian-born Petkovic is a vocalist specialised in jazz, contemporary jazz and world music. In 2003 she finished her jazz vocal studies and has been awarded with the “Würdigungspreis für herausragende künstlerische Leistungen” an official medal for exceptional artistic accomplishments by the Austrian secretary of culture. The strength of her compositions is the connection of traditional music with contemporary jazz, to be heard on her debut album “A New One”. Petkovic’ voice is known from the opera in Graz and the Schauspielhaus, the “Sandy Lopicic Orkestar” and “Shantel & Bukovina Club”. She is the face of the Balkans and gypsy jazz scene in Graz.
Natalie Resch, programme
Resch finished her studies of German language and literature and her masters degree in arts and law at the Karl Franzens University in Graz. During her studies she also spent some time in Zagreb. She runs the department for foreigners and since 2010 she works as a member of jury on international film festivals in the name of the parish Graz Seckau. During the same year Natalie Resch accompanied Michael Maier’s exhibition “Rechtsbilder – Bilder von Recht und Gerechtigkeit” organised by CastYourArt in cooperation with the Karl Franzens University Graz. She also works as a project manager for the Afro-Asian Institute on projects like “Megacities”.
Alexandra Riewe, programme
Riewe is an art historian and ethnologist and coordinates art exhibitions in the Neue Galerie at the Landesmuseum Joanneum and at the festival steirischer herbst. She curated cultural projects and publications in the course of the regionale08 with the label BUERO BUOL RIEWE. Currently she is working on a publication titled “Uncurated – Unbefugte Interventionen im Grazer Stadtraum” together with Joachim Hainzl from Xenos for the department of art in public spaces.
Horst‐Michael Schaffer, programme
After studying classical singing at the conservatory in Graz, he took up studying jazz trumpet at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where he now gives lectures since 2003. He brought his skills to perfection in London and Los Angeles, where he rose to become one of the most renowned jazz trumpeters. In 2001 he became the director of programming for the concert series “Jazz in der Oper”. In the jazz genre Schaffer works predominantly with the Jazz Big Band Graz, the Vienna Concert Jazz Band, Ostinato, Ed Partyka and Georg Breinschmid. As a producer in the field of pop and club music he works with artists like Nick Cave.