Bob Stacke ’71, a long-time Augsburg College faculty member and a retired chair of the music department, was mentioned in a Star Tribune news article about relaxed Cuban travel regulations.
New policies on commerce and travel to Cuba may come with societal change, according to Stacke, who has traveled to the country five times.
“I do think the Cuban people will try to maintain their culture,” he said.
To read the article and learn more about Cuban travel, visit the Star Tribune news site.
During the winter break, several students and faculty were busy learning abroad on short-term faculty-led programs through Augsburg Abroad and the Center for Global Education.
Winter faculty-led programs were:
History of Cuban Music in Cuba with Professor Bob Stacke, Music
Students experienced the fascinating culture of Cuba and its history, politics, and religion by exploring the way Cuban music has contributed to Afro-Caribbean music as a whole. Students also explored how music is used as a means of expressing cultural difference and social realities. Continue reading “Short-term study abroad: a credit and an amazing experience”
As evidence of the College’s commitment to connecting with the community, The Augsburg Jazz Instrumental Vocal Ensemble (Jive), under the direction of Bob Stacke, performed for the annual African Development Center’s gala at the Landmark Center in St. Paul on May 20. The Augsburg musicians played five Somali songs with Rahma Ruuhl, a local Somali vocalist. The arrangements were done by alumni Steve Herzog and were a blending of Somali contemporary music and American Jazz.
For eight summers, Bob Stacke has directed the band and taught percussion at the Ecole Musique Ste Trinite in Port-au-Prince and Leogane, Haiti. In addition, he spent time last summer working with percussionists at the Centre Vocationel Cite Soleil Non-Violence where they were giving music classes. Stacke is the Augsburg College music department chair and director of the Augsburg Concert Band as well as the Jazz Ensemble and Gospel Praise.
Stacke shares his thoughts about the devastation caused by the recent earthquakes and photos of the people he has met while teaching in Haiti. Included in this collage are Stacke’s photos of life at Holy Trinity School in Port-au-Prince, Leogane and Cite Soleil. He will also share reflections in daily chapel on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 11:20 a.m. All are welcome to chapel. Continue reading “A personal perspective on Haiti”
For the past week, the Augsburg Jazz Ensemble has stretched themselves musically in an in-depth exploration of the music of Duke Ellington. In partnership with the VocalEssence choral ensemble, Augsburg once again participated in their WITNESS program, which celebrates the music of African-Americans.
Music Department Chair Bob Stacke recruited a “big band”-style orchestra that included high school, Augsburg, and professional players. For the “High School All Star Jazz Band,” he worked with music teachers in five Minneapolis public high schools and the Walker West Music Academy in Saint Paul to put together a band of talented players. They were joined by Jazz Ensemble members and professionals Larry Sims (trumpet) and David Wright III (saxophone/clarinet), who served as mentors to the students and played with them in the orchestra. The High School All Star Jazz Band was featured in “C Jam Blues.” Continue reading “Students play in WITNESS to Duke Ellington”
