To conclude this year's autumn working phase at the State Music Academy, the PHOENIX FOUNDATION, the State Youth Jazz Orchestra RLP, invites you to a concert in the auditorium of the Heinrich House in Engers on late Sunday afternoon, free of charge. The working phase takes place from November 13 to 16 with a thematic focus on a current occasion: On December 31, 2025, PETER HERBOLZHEIMER would have turned 90 years old. A wonderful opportunity to commemorate his work with and for the "Rhythm Combination & Brass" - ONLY and PURE. On the concert evening of the Phoenix Foundation, exclusively music by Peter Herbolzheimer will be performed. The Concert Band is conducted by Erik van Lier, who was a trombonist with Herbolzheimer. The Phoenix Junior Big Band, led by Frank Reichert, also joins the program and will present arrangements from Peter Herbolzheimer's "Rhythm Combination & Brass" that evening.

Someone who is well-suited to bring this "homage" to life is collaborator and "witness" Erik van Lier, formerly a trombonist in Herbolzheimer's "Rhythm Combination & Brass." Erik van Lier began his professional career at the age of 17 with the Dutch radio big band The Skymasters. Before his time with Herbolzheimer, he was the bass trombonist for the legendary Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band. He played in the Slide Hampton-Joe Haider Big Band, the Mel Lewis-Joe Haider Big Band, and in Thad Jones' Ball Of Fire. At the Conservatory of Amsterdam, the largest jazz department in Europe, he teaches bass trombone and directs the two big bands.

In the Phoenix Foundation, talented young musicians come together who are engaged in big band jazz. Under the overall direction of Frank Reichert, the ensemble, which represents a fresh-modern interpretation of big band jazz, has established itself as a talent forge for the German jazz scene. As part of this year's autumn working phase, Frank Reichert hands over the baton to Pascal Koppenhöfer, who is well-known in Engers as a member of the BlueNoteBigband, which traditionally musically concludes the academic year on December 30 in the auditorium.