Funk and soul band (Funkystition)
Contact
Responsible: Stephan Schomaker
Email:
Rehearsals: regularly on Tuesdays from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm, Chamber Music Hall (A11); additional rehearsals for specific events by arrangement
Admission requirements: Participation subject to consultation with the artistic director; a commitment to attend for several semesters is desirable
Funk and soul band (Funkystition)
“Funk_U!” has been in existence since the 2025/26 winter semester. The ensemble features rousing vocalists, creative wind players and a groovy rhythm section with soloist ambitions.
Within the band, the skills and abilities required for ensemble playing are developed and nurtured, such as creating and performing one’s own arrangements, solo playing and issues relating to collaborative, genre-appropriate interpretation. Singers find themselves in a wide variety of polyphonic settings. Current ensemble members will go on to become ensemble leaders. Critical reflection on organisational, musical and collaborative interaction provides invaluable experience for their future careers.
The history of the funk and soul bands at the Institute of Music
The man behind the concept of the Institute of Music’s funk and soul band tradition was Peter Janßen, who served for many years as teaching staff for special tasks on behalf of Carl von Ossietzky University.
‘Soulrise’and‘Sould Out’were the university’s former soul bands, known for their concerts and legendary performances at events including the Oldenburg Kultursommer, the Kulturetage Oldenburg, ‘Classic meets Pop’ and the Oldenburg City Festival. The members of these former bands have since completed their studies.
‘Better Call Soul’was the third generation. The line-up consisted of singers, a rhythm section and a horn section. The band’s musical repertoire ranged from soul classics to modern beats and grooves with touches of rap and hip hop, all of which were specially arranged.
At the city’s ‘Summer in the City’ cultural events series in 2019, the group‘Soulicious’stood out. With up to five singers, a horn section and a large rhythm section, it was a challenge for this version of the funk and soul band to perform their wonderful choreography on the limited stage space. A particularly elaborate disco medley proved very popular. The influence of the artist Stevie Wonder had a clear stylistic impact on the subsequent line-ups.
‘Sway’, the fifth generation, was active until July 2024 and was bursting with positive energy. At their stage shows, it was almost impossible not to start dancing along straight away. This version of the funk and soul band also performed at numerous semester events and entered co-operations with other bands.
‘Funkystition’, the sixth generation, enthusiastically enriched university community events until the end of the summer semester 2025, and ambitiously reached out to pupils, for example at the Graf-Anton-Günther-Schule. Concerts outside the university helped to raise the band’s profile