The concert by the Mnozil Brass for the McNeese State University Banners Cultural Series is a result of one happenstance after another, according to Mary Richardson, director of the Banners Series.

“There are so many coincidences in the story of Mnozil that the concert really should be called a miracle,” she said.

That “miracle” will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 27 in the F.G. Bulber Auditorium. Tickets are included in a Banners membership, but are also available online at www.banners.org, at the Civic Center Box Office and at the door. Cost is $20 for adults, $5 for students and free to McNeese and Sowela students with an ID.

Mnozil Brass is a group of seven brass musicians from Austria, which is new to the United States but is famous in Europe for its concerts of classical music — presented with an abundance of humor. Each musician is classically trained, but has rejected the formal concert route in favor of a presentation that is funny, musically witty and in the style of Victor Borge.

Group members are Thomas Gansch, trumpet, fluegel horn, vocals; Robert Rother, trumpet, vocals; Roman Rindberger, trumpet, fluegel horn, vocals; Leonhard Paul, bass trumpet, trombone, vocals; Gerhard Fussl , trombone, vocals; Zoltan Kiss, trombone, vocals; and Wilfried Brandstotter, tuba, vocals.

The line of coincidences starts in the 19th century when a Moravian family named Mnozil settled in Vienna. In 1932, one of the descendants opened a bar, which became the Mnozil Inn in the 1960s.

The bar happened to be located across the street from the University for Music and the Arts, and in time, musicians, singers and music lovers started spending many hours there.

By 1993 the members of Mnozil had come to Vienna to study classical music, and by coincidence, all ended up at the University for Music and Arts. They would meet between lessons in the hallways, but didn’t find the corridors to be very sociable places, so they moved to the Mnozil Inn. Thus began regular jam sessions.

But they didn’t play classical music at the bar. The musicians had all learned the same polkas, marches and concert pieces that all amateur bands played throughout Austria. They had all played with these groups, usually without music, so had learned to trust their ears and improvise.

Their sole aim was to have fun. They never intended to give concerts so there was no pressure on them. They played purely to entertain themselves and others, so by coincidence, the musicians developed the special style they have today.

In 1993 they began accepting invitations to play in venues other than the bar. That led to fame throughout Europe, but not generally in the United States.

However, young people got the word. Music students in America became very excited about them, including the music students at McNeese.

“I got a call from Dave Scott,” Richardson said. “Dave teaches brass at McNeese and he said all his students were talking about a group called Mnozil Brass. He asked us to check it out for the Banners Series.”

She did — and by coincidence Mnozil was coming to the United States. And the tour included Baton Rouge. “We contacted the group and there was one night free — Tuesday, March 27, right after the Baton Rouge concert. So we made a deal.”

Richardson said she expects a somewhat smaller crowd than usual because the concert takes place on a weekday. “But you can sure tell the college students know about Mnozil Brass,” she said. “Music students are coming from schools in Texas and other areas out of our normal service area. We’re very happy about it,” she said. “It’s quite a coincidence that it worked out.”

More information and a link to music by Mnozil are available at the Banners website.

Mnozil Brass features seven musicians from Austria. (SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN PRESS)

special to the american press