Doug Hurt, 1406 Cedar Crossing Trail, Midlothian, VA 23114
Telephone 804.307.3286 or 804.379-5779
E-Mail: doughurt@aol.com or elbemusikanten@aol.com

BAND INFORMATION

The Elbe-Musikanten (the Elbe is Germany's second largest river) is a group of nine to fourteen musicians who enjoy playing the traditional style of German, Austrian, Czech and Slovak music such as polkas, marches, waltzes and other dances as well as songs. The typical music you would listen to at a village event where the community gathers to celebrate and socialize. This, of course, includes also music for Oktoberfest and Gemutlichkeit. Additionally, the band maintains a four hour repertoire of German-American dance music (traditional music and American standards). A complete maritime program from Northern Germany is available also.

In September 2002, the band followed an invitation to Saint Paul, Minnesota, to participate at the German-American culture festival “The Rheinfest on the Mississippi.” Since 2003, Elbe-Musikanten have performed at the region’s largest Oktoberfest at Fort Belvoir. Further, the band performed at an Oktoberfest near Winston-Salem, NC in 2004.

All musicians are from the Greater Richmond area, and several of them have their
professional background in music.

The Elbe-Musikanten evolved out of the European Wind Ensemble of Richmond in December 1994. Since the European Wind Ensemble had grown to an over 25 piece band, there was a need to establish another group to meet the requests for performances in a smaller setting.

The band appears in traditional countryside costume, i.e. white shirt, string tie, black pants, red or green vest and green alpine hat (optional). Also, the band provides flags and music stand banners. For authentic Oktoberfest performances, a group of the renown Bavarian folk dance group “Hirschjäger” from Richmond can be engaged to perform together with the Elbe Musikanten.

The band founder, Andreas Marx, conducted the community band in his German home town on the Elbe river for four years prior to his move to Richmond in 1991. In 1988, he achieved a Conductor Diploma for amateur bands at the Music Academy of the German Community Band Association. In June of 2001, he graduated from the Federal Music Academy in Trossingen / Germany in band conducting. Also, Mr. Marx was a member of the Richmond Symphony Chorus. He graduated with a degree in music education at the Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2007, Herr Marx returned to Germany and the band was taken over by Doug Hurt, long-time clarinetist of the band.

For further details, please give Doug Hurt a call at (804) 307-3286 or (804) 379-5779. You can also contact Doug at elbemusikanten@aol.com or doughurt@aol.com.
It would be a great pleasure to play for your event and make it a full success!