St. Olaf To Jazz Up Cuba In Spring 2016

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota college jazz ensemble plans to tour Cuba next spring.

St. Olaf College in Northfield received an invitation from the Cuban Ministry of Culture to have its jazz ensemble perform a series of concerts in Havana.

The college says St. Olaf Jazz will tour Cuba March 20-25.

The band is led by St. Olaf faculty member Dave Hagedorn and includes 21 undergraduate musicians.

In addition to performing several concerts, the students will have a chance to work with Cuban jazz artists and play alongside local groups.

The jazz ensemble will be the first St. Olaf music group to perform in Cuba.

U.S. and Cuban leaders agreed to restore diplomatic ties last December. Diplomatic relations were restored and embassies of the two countries were reopened this summer.