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Description
Swedish musical sensation Gunhild Carling is an internationally acclaimed superstar whose show is a can’t-miss event.
Gunhild features great swing jazz standards from the Speakeasy and Big Band Eras, and some of her music sounds like traditional New Orleans jazz.
“This woman is an unbelievable powerhouse!” said Sharon Brass, The Barnhill Center producer. “She plays an amazing assortment of instruments including trumpet, trombone, harmonica, oboe, harp, flute, piano, banjo, guitar, double bass, ukulele and even bagpipes. She sometimes plays three trumpets at once!
“But Gunhild’s showmanship really shines through her charming singing voice that is reminiscent of Billly Holiday. And she often breaks-out into dance routines – tap dance is her favorite. Sometimes she showcases all of these talents within one song.”
She masterfully takes you back to another era with vintage songs like "Minnie the Moocher," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "All of Me," "It Had to Be You," and an endless repertoire of old favorites.
In total, Gunhild has released eleven albums starting in 1985 with her debut, “I’ve Lost My Heart In Dixieland.” Most of her albums (and concerts) feature her family members who are also expert musicians and vocalists. Some albums were recorded with orchestras and some with her Big Band.
Gunhild Carling is a TV celebrity in Sweden, starring in Allsang Pa Skansen, Let’s Dance (Dancing With The Stars, Sweden), Fangarna pa Fortet (Fear Factory), Sa Skall Det Lata (Songwriter’s Board), America’s Got Talent, and ABC News.
With the Carling Family, Gunhild has appeared in several TV programs: Affären Ramel, Nygammalt, Cafe Sundsvall (Polish TV), Sommarkonsert Askersund, Aktuellt SVT, Sommarkonsert Grona Lund, RTL Germany.
From 2006 – 2016 Gunhild managed and starred in the annual Stockamollan Swing & Jazz Festival in her hometown Stockamollan, with artists from all over the world.
From 2008 to 2016 she managed a large jazz tour in Sweden with her own Big Band, including string section and dancers, which ran annually in January-February. The last year it covered 25 cities in one month.
In 2014 she performed with her “Carling Big Band” at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, for the celebration of King Carl XVI Gustaf's Ruby Jubilee. She returned to the Palace In 2016 to perform at the King’s 70th birthday celebration.
In 2018, Gunhild moved to northern California with her family. She had performances scheduled throughout the United States, but when venues closed due to Covid she often performed live via social media where she amassed over one million followers.
Today she tours with her own Big Band, and also performs as a featured singer with orchestras and symphonies. She sometimes records and performs with the touring band, Postmodern Jukebox.
A Few Achievements
1985 The Louis Armstrong Scholarship
1986 Soloist with Visby Big Band in Swedish national TV
1998 Actor in “När karusellerna sover” on Swedish national TV
1999 Held a position at the Gothenburg opera playing orchestral harp
2006 Kobe Jazz Street Award
2009 The SKAP Scholarship
2009 The Anita O’Day Award
2010 City of Malmö “Glädjespridare” Award
2010 Hosted the music series “Dansbandskampen” on Swedish national TV
2011 Honorary citizenship in Eslöv (Sweden)
2014 Woman of the Year, Skane, Sweden
2016 The Thore Ehring Scholarship
What People Are Saying
I have never before seen a band so hot that a room full of 500 dancers stopped dancing just to listen! - Hep Cat Reviews
Gunhild Carling is one of the most important musicians and ambassadors for the arts in the world today. She is recognized globally for her outstanding musicianship as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, entertainer. - Scotty Barnhart, Director, Count Basie Orchestra
I have worked all over the world with stars like Liza Minnelli and Tony Bennett, among others, and can honestly say that Gunhild captivates an audience in a way I’ve never seen before. - Billy Stritch, pianist, singer in New York
Gunhild Carling inspired me to paint a mural about her because I see her as a positive influence for women of all ages. She is a talented multi-instrumentalist, a successful entrepreneur, and the biggest inspiration to me. This mural is on the US Bank tower in downtown LA, the tallest building in all of California. - Paloma Arciniega, mural painter in Los Angeles
I’ve had the pleasure of performing on stages throughout America with Gunhild Carling. Wherever Gunhild goes, she spreads joy and love through her incredible musical talents and her inspiring positive energy. I don’t know anyone who works harder to bring music and entertainment to audiences, and I’ve never seen audiences respond more enthusiastically to a performer. - Michael Andrew, singer, composer, arranger
Date & Time
Sat, May 27, 2023 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Venue Details
Hasskarl Auditorium - The Barnhill Center
111 West Main StreetBrenham, Texas 77833
The Barnhill Center
Built-in 1925, in the grand architectural style of Beaux-Arts Classical Revival, the Simon Theatre provided a splendid setting for many theatrical performances, film screenings and ballroom dances. The James Simon family commissioned Houston architect Alfred C. Finn, whose career included designing a number of prominent Houston buildings as well as the San Jacinto Monument, to design the theatre for the community of Brenham. Today, after a meticulous million-plus dollar renovation, the glamour and grand style lives on for future generations in the newly named Barnhill Center at Historic Simon Theatre.