Last Thursday was Stadtmusik Kandern’s “Jahresversammlung,” or “Annual Meeting.” The community band is a “Verein,” which is like a club. This was my first time attending the meeting. It was interesting to see all the ins and outs of how the band is run.
We all showed up to the back room of a local restaurant in full uniform (not my favorite outfit, since it involves wearing a bright red tie and a gray suit coat). A few spouses and non-musicians invested in the band also attended as observers. We began the evening by playing a march. Then everyone settled down with drinks for the official part.
President Manny gives a speech at one of our previous concerts. Note the red tie.
Several different things happened during this time:
- We re-elected the officers of the band (president, treasurer, and a couple others). The president was re-elected with his name & “ja” on slips of paper. All the other positions were affirmed by hand-raising.
- The president gave an overview of all the band’s activities from 2011, including number of rehearsals and performances.
- The treasurer gave an update of our financial situation, and two other people affirmed the accuracy of his bookkeeping.
- Key people were thanked for their hard work. There was an appreciation gift for the 3 members with best attendance in 2011. The band gave the president a thank-you gift certificate to Europa Park, the local theme park.
- Some students were inducted into full membership since they had passed a proficiency exam.
- The mayor (who is also my landlord) gave a long-winded speech. He talked about all the good things we do as a band and how he’s happy to be financially supporting us. If I understood his Alemannisch dialect slang, it sounded like the “minus” sign in the treasurer’s report could easily be cleared up; all they have to do is ask him!
- The president talked about the progress of a local beginning band program in the German elementary school. It sounds like there is a partnership with Kandern’s school and a school in Schliengen.The beginning band students are projected to feed into the youth band and eventually the community band. This vision of growth is similar to ours at BFA!
From a previous concert. Euphonium player on top left: best attendance. Euphonium player next to him: 2nd best attendance. Horn player boy in center left: 3rd best attendance; also is the son of 2nd euphonium player.
At the end, we played another march. The (albeit small) audience applauded so enthusiastically, we played them another piece. Encores are traditional in all German ensemble performances, but this one seemed a bit superfluous even for German culture. The band outnumbered the audience! So to thank them for their appreciation, we played the Baden anthem. Emily says it sounds like a drinking song; decide for yourself!
