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District Administrator Will: “Local cultural work creates spaces for talent, education and participation”
Büttelborn Youth Wind Orchestra was honored with great applause on the festival stage of “Volk im Schloss”: District Administrator Thomas Will and Elke Landau from the District Cultural Office presented conductor Moritz Thiele with the 2025 Groß-Gerau District Cultural Promotion Prize, endowed with 5,000 euros.
The jury recognized the outstanding musical training, the intensive youth work, and the special commitment to a genre that is no longer a given. The award is presented every two years, alternating with the Cultural Prize.
Young musicians on the big stage
This year, the setting was new: Instead of the town hall or a hall, the approximately 30-member ensemble received the award on the large open-air stage – charmingly hosted by Christian Döring . The orchestra performed samples of its repertoire, including its trademark, the theme song from "The Muppet Show." Whether Abba, Amy Winehouse, or "Pirates of the Caribbean," the program included modern arrangements as well as traditional brunch pieces.
" Here the rhythm rocks " is the motto of the orchestra, whose musicians are between 13 and 26 years old. Participation is a top priority: the young people actively participate in the selection of pieces.
Laudation by cultural scientist Schneider
Prof. Wolfgang Schneider , cultural politician and jury member, emphasized the importance of consistent youth work: Back in 1990, the then conductor Dr. Martin Reitz laid the foundation with the phrase "We must do youth work." Today, the result is exemplary musical education in close cooperation with schools and music schools.
District Administrator Thomas Will emphasized the importance of the award: "Promoting local culture means creating spaces for talent, education, and participation. It is important for the personal development of young people and enriches local life as a whole."
Thanks and recognition
Fred Kraus , chairman of the brass band, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the association: "We could hardly believe it when we learned of the decision. The award means a lot to us—it's both recognition and motivation." Around 60 percent of the band's active members today come from the band's own youth brass band.
Schneider concluded by appealing to politicians to clearly commit to cultural education in the election campaign: "Especially in times of tight budgets, the comparatively limited resources for culture must not be left up for discussion."
(Gross-Gerau district-Red/PSGG)
Featured image: An award for the ensemble: The Büttelborn Youth Wind Orchestra receives the 2024 Cultural Promotion Prize of the Groß-Gerau district. Pictured, from left: Claudia Weller, Heike Karcher, Gabriele Fladung (jury member), Fred Kraus (Chairman of the Büttelborn Wind Orchestra), Elke Landau (District Cultural Office), Thomas Will (District Administrator), Ulrich Conzen (long-time conductor of the Youth Wind Orchestra), Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schneider (laudator and jury member), Moritz Thiele (conductor of the Youth Wind Orchestra). Photo: District Administration
