Robert Kuckertz

Robert Kuckertz (born October 3, 1959 in Düren , Düren district in North Rhine-Westphalia ) is a German conductor and musician in various orchestras of the Bundeswehr .

Kuckertz grew up in Geich . He passed his Abitur at the Wirteltorgymnasium in Düren . He then attended the music school in Düren and took part in professional training in the subjects of trumpet, piano, ensemble playing and music theory . At the age of 16 he already played as a pianist in the local band of his uncle and father, the "SK Combo".

He studied at the Robert Schumann School of Dusseldorf in the subjects of trumpet and piano . He then embarked on the career of Kapellmeister . In the USA he studied with Leonard Bernstein .

After positions as deputy head of Air Force Music Corps 2 in Karlsruhe and later as head of Army Music Corps 1 in Hanover, he went to Euskirchen in 1991 , where he headed the Bundeswehr Big Band until 2001 . He also headed the training music corps in Hilden . Most recently he was head of the Army Music Corps 300 in Koblenz , which has now been assigned to a new department as part of the structural reform of the Bundeswehr and has been renamed the Army Music Corps Koblenz . That is why Kuckertz went into early retirement. He has the rank of lieutenant colonel .

Kuckertz made guest appearances with his bands on almost every continent. He met many show and music greats, e. B. Caterina Valente , Roberto Blanco and Paul Kuhn . He presented the then US President Bill Clinton , a passionate saxophone player, with a new saxophone in the presence of Chancellor Helmut Kohl . For some time Kuckertz was also on duty in Afghanistan .

Even in retirement, Kuckertz remained connected to music . He runs workshops and courses for young conductors and also works as a judge in music competitions, especially brass music .

Kuckertz is married and has two children. He lives with his family in the Euskirchen district .

Discography (excerpt)

So far the Big Band of the Bundeswehr has released over 30 records and CDs with arrangements in various music genres in big band style. Robert Kuckertz contributed to the following:

• 1991: dance with us! Episode 2
• 1996: 25 years of swing • hits • evergreens
• 1998: Good News
• 1999: Ballroom Melodies
• 2000: Swingtime
• 2001: 30 years on tour
• 2001: Music is in the air

Web links, sources

• Article in the Aachener Zeitung on August 9, 2014
• Kuckertz at www.auren-musik.de
• Concert in his home parish