Local orchestra charms Germans
2007-08-16
RECENTLY 12 learners and four educators of the Frank Pietersen Music Centre in Paarl returned from a very successful tour to Germany.
They were invited to visit their partner school, the Kreismusikschule “Gebrüder Graun” of the Elbe-Elster County in the Brandenburg Province.
The Frank Pietersen Ensemble which consisted of String, Wind and African Percussion players performed at the German Music Schools’s 50 year Celebrations.
They were extremely well received at the main Festival Concert in the beautiful Church of Bad Liebenwerda where this music school had its origins.
The lively African flavour which the group brought to this concert was popular and they received a standing ovation.
The Kreismusikschule “Gebrüder Graun” has approximately 1 000 learners and three main teaching venues. The young Paarl musicians stayed in Finsterwalde with host parents and were absolutely spoiled.
Many sponsors made this tour possible and the tour group gave a special concert for all people who sponsored this combined project.
At this event a document was signed by Vaughan Pietersen, principal of the Frank Pietersen Music Centre, Siegfried Fritsche of the Kreismusikschule “Gebrüder Graun” and the head of the Elbe-Elster County, Klaus Richter, expressing the wish to further this partnership.
The group also enjoyed sightseeing outings by the Lions Club of Finsterwalde, sponsored by the Africa Foundation and the parliamentarian of the Elbe-Elster county, Michael Stübgen.
The group stayed a week in Finsterwalde, performing for the local high school, and joining in in the festivities of the music school.
The youngsters made good friends and the teachers exchanged ideas.
During the last weekend they joined the German friends at the “Landesmusikschultage” in Spremberg where all the music schools of the Brandenburg province got together for a weekend festival. About 2000 participants and many people moved through the town of Spremberg to the nine stages which were built up all over the town.
Each stage was alive with pop groups, jazz bands, wind bands, percussion ensembles and orchestras all day and every day until midnight.
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