A women's big band as a statement: Meike advocates for gender equality in the music industry
- Music
Playing the trumpet was always a part of me, already from a very young age," says Meike Brandt about her instrument. She will soon graduate from the Jazz & Pop course at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle.
In this finals story, she shares her journey as a trumpeter at the academy, and her plans for the future.
"The trumpet is an inseparable part of me," says Meike. "My father plays the same instrument, my mother played the alto saxophone, and that's how they met. My brother played the flugelhorn for a while; it has always been a natural part of our family life and my musical upbringing. By getting to know more trumpet repertoire, I developed my own love for the instrument. For example, when I heard Eric Vloeimans play and saw how he gave the instrument a completely unique sound, I immediately knew: this inspires me, I wanted to find my own authentic sound. That's why I eventually decided to study Jazz & Pop. The course was a period of discovering who I am, both personally and musically. Thanks to my main trumpet teacher, Jan Wessels, I made significant progress and developed my improvisation skills. I even play in a hip-hop/funk band called Chef Defect now."
I have named my graduation concert 'Break the Circle' to address the underrepresentation of women in this part of the music industry.
Graduation
"Specifically for the occasion of my graduation from the Jazz & Pop programme, I have assembled a seven-piece band with musicians who all study at the Academy of Music in Zwolle. On Wednesday, 19 June, I will be performing with them at Odeon Zwolle, showcasing pieces that have inspired me over the past few years. From jazz and bossa nova to a warm and intimate song by Brigitte Kaandorp, I will demonstrate my trumpet and flugelhorn skills in various ways. Besides the music, I also want to use the stage to make a statement. To wake up my male colleagues, I plan to perform with a 17-woman big band during my final exam concert. I want to spotlight women in the music industry."
Women's Big Band
"Finding 16 other female musicians, planning rehearsals, and writing pieces: I have been working on this project for about half a year, although I have been thinking about gender inequality in the music industry since the beginning of my studies. My idea was to highlight women in big bands. If you google big bands, you mostly see pictures of male musicians. It's not that I think they are less talented, but I want to contribute to a more diverse image of big bands, with women on stage too. I have named my graduation concert 'Break the Circle' to address the underrepresentation of women in this part of the music industry. Of course, I could have chosen to form a diverse band with musicians of different genders, but the fact that it is an all-women band has a powerful wow effect. By founding and presenting this women's big band, I aim to promote equal opportunities and inclusion in the music world. I hope to inspire other young women to pursue their goals in the music industry despite the obstacles they may face. My intention is to continue this project after my studies, so my statement can resonate on an ever-larger scale."
Future
"After my final exam, I need to find a new home. I have been living in the conservatory house at Assendorperplein for the past few years. Now that my studies are over, I unfortunately have to leave this beautiful home too. What is certain is that I will continue teaching and conducting at music associations around Zwolle two days a week. With Chef Defect, we are currently releasing new work and have many performances scheduled. As I said at the beginning: making music and playing the trumpet is an inseparable part of me, and I will continue to do so. Additionally, I have ambitions as a photographer and want to further develop in that field."
