Sigi Feigl & the KUG Stage Band @ GIBS
On May 28, 2026, the KUG Stage Band, directed by Professor Sigi Feigl, visited GIBS for a special concert together with our students. The evening opened with the KUG Stage Band performing classic big band repertoire, setting the tone for an exciting musical collaboration.
The GIBS Junior Choir then joined the KUG rhythm section, featuring special guest Renato Chicco on piano, for a lively rendition of “Sermonette” by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross (composed by Nat Adderley with lyrics by Jon Hendricks). Nils Maletz (8I) contributed on piano on Count Basie’s slow blues “After Supper,” performing alongside the choir and big band.
The program continued with Benny Goodman’s iconic “Sing, Sing, Sing,” performed by the Junior Choir together with students from 3A, 3B, and 3C alongside the big band. The piece featured Lily Fink (7B) on clarinet, Flora Connert 7b on alto saxophone, and lyrics by Jon Hendricks.
After the intermission, the KUG Stage Band returned with Basie’s “Queen Bee.” Jazz vocalist Dora Pretković followed with a moving performance of Thelonious Monk’s “’Round Midnight.”
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Emma Krisper Scholarship. Eva Krisper and Principal Edda Berger awarded this honor, in memory of GIBS student Emma Krisper, to Carla Spari Bates (5A) and Irene Rothbart (5C). The scholarship supports students studying abroad in the coming school year; Carla will travel to Quebec, Canada, and Irene to Costa Rica.
In a touching tribute to Emma, students from 1A, 1B, 1C, 3A, 3B, and 3C joined the Junior Choir, KUG Stage Band, and GIBS Strings and woodwind players to perform “What a Wonderful World.”
Further highlights included a performance of Basie’s “Scott’s Place” with GIBS flutists Anja Forstner (5B), Magdalena Klug (5A), and Leonora Hochreiter (7B). Lily Fink then returned to the stage for Duke Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me,” performing alongside Sigi Feigl and accompanied by the KUG Stage Band.
The evening concluded with two ensemble numbers featuring all singers and musicians. First came “Sing” (from Sesame Street), with Olivia Platzgummer (3C) on E-bass, and Christa Klug (3B) joining the flute section and Lily on clarinet. The finale, ‘Duke Ellington Medley’, featured GIBS vocalists Flora Karadkar (5C), Maria Elena Hartlieb (6I), Sophie Stangl (8I), Johanna Wahrbichler (8B), Olivia Bills-Unit, Lara Hochkofler, Luca Hock, and Darija Ristić (4A). Alumni Sofia Maiberg and Ailish Schreiner (Class of 2024) also returned from ‘the other side’ as featured soloists.
The string section included students from across multiple year groups, as well as teachers, parents and future GIBS students: 1b: Kai Teufelberger 2a: Ela Hölbling 2b: Oskar Faschinger, Mia Schellnegger 3c: Paula Wesseley 4a: Luca Hock 4c: Noah Schulte; 5b: Anna Stangl 6i: Yeva Breslavets 7b: Marie Huber 8i: Sophie Stangl GIBS Staff: Ms. Bergegere (French, German), Mr. Szell (biology) GIBS community: Karin Hoelbling (Ela, 2a), Erin Maletz (Nils 8i) and Noriko Kataoka (Noah 4c), Katharina Stangl (Anna 5b, Sophie 8i), and future GIBS students: Amalia Kanke, Greta Faschinger
It was an unforgettable evening of live music and collaboration—our sincere thanks go to Sigi Feigl and the KUG Stage Band for this inspiring musical experience! We wish Sigi Feigl the very best in his retirement and thank him for our four lovely collaborations over the years!
