Do you like to have fun? So does Yodel Blitz! Yodel Blitz is a hilarious, German, folk-music based musical group that is ready to bring you beer-drinking, polka-dancing, yodel-blitzing fun in the German style. With decades of combined performance experience, Yodel Blitz leads their audiences willingly on a musical journey, getting them involved in the experience throughout the performance. In addition to the typical, traditional folk-music instruments – clarinet, accordion, tuba, saxophone, electric bass, drums, and baritone – our audience favorites include stellar performances on unusual folk instruments like the alphorn, Austrian cowbells and saw. In honor of the band’s namesake, they feature lightning fast yodeling in 3-part harmony, something that sets this group apart from other traditional, German bands! Although this group has been performing together since 2014, they have been playing German folk music and other genres of music in different configurations for decades.
Gary Trumet (tuba) and Sharlene Trumet (clarinet) are siblings hailing from Helotes, TX. They were born and raised in Buffalo, New York by a father of German heritage and a mother from Wurzburg, Germany. They began dancing and singing as children and as teens they participated in school band programs that gave them fundamentals on their main instruments. In 1971, the Trumet family formed a band called the Sauerkrauts performing German folk music and developed a large following in the Northeastern United States and Canada. Schatzi played clarinet and saxophone and sang, and Gary played tuba and sang in the family group. Then in 1982, the Sauerkrauts were hired to perform in the German Pavilion at E.P.C.O.T. Center in Orlando, Florida. Gary was instrumental in forming the all-girl Oompah band for Fiesta Texas called the “Foompah Frauleins” in 1993. He introduced his sister, Sharlene and Lorelei through this group, which was so successful, they continued as an independent duo called Lorelei und Schatzi from 1995 until 2014. Then the three performers collaborated on a few music gigs in 2014 after Gary retired the Sauerkrauts; the gigs were so enjoyable that Yodel Blitz was formed.
Meet the Yodel Blitz Band Members!
Lorelei Wisian-Brooke lives in Austin, Texas. She grew up in Nordheim, Texas and graduated with a B.A. in Music from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas and Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from AIU in Atlanta, GA. Lorelei, who also works as a solo performer, brings a wide range of musical experience to the act with yodeling, accordion and original songs. She has performed big band music, German folk music, western, western swing and country music, and has sung classical music with various bands, choral groups and orchestras. From 1990 to 1995, and again in 1997, she performed with Myron Floren in the Wurst Band at Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas. Her varied musical experience gives the group a strong foundation for its performances. Lorelei works as a Data Engineering Leader in Austin, Texas.
Schatzi (aka Sharlene Trumet) currently lives in Helotes, TX. She was born and raised in Buffalo, New York by a father of German heritage and a mother from Wurzburg, Germany. She began dancing and singing as a child and as a teen added the clarinet to her German music skills. Schatzi brings a fun flare to the group with her improvisational humor and lighthearted nature. In addition to music, Schatzi is dedicated to improving the health of those around her as a certified transformational life coach as well as a licensed massage therapist.
Gary Trumet, a graduate of the prestigious Eastman School of Music, also hails from Helotes, Texas and has been the leader and foundation of the very popular German show band, The Sauerkrauts, since 1985. After a successful run at Disney’s EPCOT Center, Gary took his vision of bringing German/Austrian music to a much more popular level and succeeded, performing in Las Vegas, Orlando, Florida, Vermont, New Hampshire, well, just about every state in the union. His talents as a showman, singing, yodeling and his musicianship of many instruments, has created a large following of devoted fans. Gary and Lorelei met when The Sauerkrauts were headlining and Lorelei was a solo performer at the newly formed musical theme park, Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas in 1992.
