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Federal President Steinmeier pays tribute to amateur music tradition
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (M) is on stage with the award winners after the ceremony at the Days of Choral and Orchestral Music for a souvenir photo. Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Federal President Steinmeier visits the days of choral and orchestral music, which are considered the annual highlight of the amateur music scene. Music will be played for three days in the Mecklenburg Lake District.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid tribute to the long tradition of amateur music in Germany and emphasized its positive influence on society.
Germany is a country of music in which millions of people sing and make music in their free time “and they prefer to do so together with others,” said Steinmeier on Sunday in the concert church in Neubrandenburg.
At noon, the Zelter and Pro-Musica badges were presented to one choir and one instrumental ensemble each, representing 63 choirs and 44 orchestras. This year, these are the Mahlow 1912 Mixed Choir from Mahlow in Brandenburg and the Berlin Doctors’ Orchestra.
Music brought many people through difficult times, said the Federal President. At the same time, millions of people during the corona break would have sorely missed the shared musical experience, public musical life: “Always only singing on the exercise bike or showing off your tuba skills on YouTube is not a long-term solution either.”