For many jazz fans, experiencing the full power, richness of sound, dynamics, and drive of a big band “live” is still one of the most exciting and thrilling concert experiences of all. Unfortunately, these opportunities are becoming increasingly rare today, as keeping such a large ensemble together often poses major organizational challenges—and, in the professional sphere, additional financial challenges as well. In the Siegerland region, however, you can often enjoy such a spectacular musical event: Fortunately, for more than 40 years now, the University of Siegen has been home to a big band made up of students and amateur jazz musicians from the Siegerland region, which—through numerous concerts, including at the Siegen jazz club “Oase,” in Kassel, at the universities of Cologne and Bonn, and on WDR—has achieved a high level of recognition and popularity even beyond the region. 
In its current form as a permanent institution at the University of Siegen, the band was founded in 1979. From 1980 to 1985, it was led by the renowned American jazz trombonist, composer, and arranger Jiggs Whigham, who worked with such legendary bandleaders as Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Kurt Edelhagen. Jiggs Whigham headed the jazz department at the Cologne University of Music and the popular music department at the “Hans Eisler” University of Music in Berlin; today, he is the conductor of the BBC Big Band (London) and the director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra. He succeeded in shaping a semi-professional ensemble out of enthusiastic amateurs. With a lineup of 16–20 musicians, the band was dedicated to the tradition of the swing era, performing arrangements from the band books of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and others. 
From 1986 to 1991, the band was led by Bernhard Well, who further solidified its musical quality. After he left for professional reasons, saxophonist Klaus Panten —another musician from within the band’s own ranks—took over as the band’s leader. This change was accompanied by a stylistic reorientation, as the previously more traditionally swing-oriented repertoire was expanded to include arrangements of contemporary big-band jazz with Latin, funk, and rock influences. 
In the summer of 1998, leadership of the big band was handed over to Hartmut Sperl, a pianist and educator very active in the local scene and now the managing director of the Oase Siegen jazz club. He did not significantly alter the ensemble’s repertoire, but added additional highlights by incorporating rarely performed original arrangements penned by Francy Boland (the musical mastermind behind the legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band). In addition, his good connections with WDR ensured that the band was able to perform at several prestigious events, such as in 1999 as part of a live concert recording by WDR to mark the 60th birthday of the internationally renowned saxophonist Gerd Dudek, a native of Siegen, in his hometown. 
At the start of the 2001 summer semester, a saxophonist from within the band’s own ranks once again took over the leadership. Hans Christian Dörrscheidt had already been a member of various jazz ensembles, including the BuJazzO (Federal Youth Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer), before enrolling in the Business Information Systems program at the University of Siegen in the winter of 1998 and immediately getting in touch with the university big band. In 2006, Hans Christian Dörrscheidt stepped down and relocated for professional reasons. 
In the winter semester of 2006–2007, trombonist Bjoern Strangmann took over as director. He studied with Jiggs Whigham in Cologne, was a member of the first cohort of the Federal Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Peter Herbolzheimer, and is a co-founder of the GermanJazzOrchestra. He has played in numerous big band and jazz ensembles and directs the Morsbach Music School. 
In the summer semester of 2010, Martin Reuthner became the new and current director of the University Big Band. Martin Reuthner studied jazz trumpet at the Cologne University of Music. The trumpeter and certified music teacher lives there and performs with, among others, Udo Jürgens and the Pepe Lienhard Orchestra, the Paul Kuhn Big Band, the Heavytones (TV Total, Unser Star Für Oslo), and the WDR Big Band. He is also regularly in demand as a studio musician at numerous recording studios in Cologne, releases his own CDs, teaches with the Saxony-Anhalt Youth Jazz Orchestra, and writes instructional materials, such as “Das Trompetenbuch.” Under his direction, the big band has already recorded two CDs and featured various jazz musicians such as Andy Haderer, Ludwig Nuß, and Dave Horler (WDR Big Band), Ingolf Burkhard (NDR Big Band), and, last but not least, Gerd Dudek as guest soloists. 
Looking back, it’s clear that the founding of the Siegen University Big Band served as a catalyst for the blossoming of a local and regional jazz scene that had been virtually nonexistent until then. In its role as a gathering place for the most talented local amateur jazz musicians, it very soon contributed to the formation of numerous smaller jazz groups. Once bitten by the jazz bug, some of the founding members went on to pursue additional activities, such as co-founding the jazz club “OASE” and the now nationally renowned event series SI-JAZZ, at whose inaugural event in 1981 the band made its concert debut under Jiggs Whigham. Given that several school and music school big bands have been established since the Uni Big Band was founded, it is clear that the band also plays a pioneering role in jazz music education and, in this way, continually contributes to further revitalizing the scene. Today, the Uni Big Band is an important cultural ambassador for the university and the city of Siegen, and its public activities help foster a positive image for both.