Big Bands “Sigulda” and Mõisaküla: Two Big Bands, One Christmas Story

On 29 November at 16:00, join us at the “Siguldas devons” Cultural Centre for the festive-season concert “Two Big Bands – One Christmas Story”, featuring Big Band “Sigulda” and its friends from Estonia, the Mõisaküla Big Band.

Dance and light music have been heard in Sigulda since 1958, when Jānis Meija founded an orchestra of this kind in the town. Over the years, the ensemble has experienced changing times: it has earned recognition in national competitions, paused its activities for a time, changed its name and developed its musical range under several conductors. Jānis Raslavs, Alnis Zaķis, Pēteris Goldbergs and Vilnis Boitmanis have all stood at the conductor’s podium. Today, Big Band “Sigulda” brings together 18 musicians, whose instrumental sound is complemented by soloists Inese Greste, Daiga Krontāle and Raimonds Eizenšmits. Conductor Arnis Šmitiņš helps sustain the ensemble’s musical spark and sense of togetherness.

The concert’s special guests are the Mõisaküla Big Band, from the small Estonian town of Mõisaküla near the Latvian border. The town has only around 741 residents, yet its musical life shows that big ideas and rich traditions do not require a big city. The Mõisaküla Big Band is based at the local community centre and is the only jazz orchestra in the entire Mulgimaa region—and, as the musicians might say with a smile, the best one, too! This time, the Estonian musicians will bring not only their big-band sound to Sigulda, but also four singers: Kristiina Kanep, Piret Veevo, Raul Horn and Saskia Oja.

The meeting of the two big bands will offer a chance to enjoy different generations and musical experiences coming together, as jazz energy, melodies and singers’ voices unite listeners in the shared anticipation of Christmas.