World Harmonica Festival '97

on 15 - 19 Oct 97

at Trossingen, Germany

Diary of 15 Oct 97 (Wed)

Although the official opening ceremony starts at 7pm in the Dr. Ernst Hohner Konzerthaus, we learnt from the organizer beforehand that the practice session with the piano accompanist for solo category is scheduled in the afternoon.  The problem is to find our way there.  After a brief practice of the Quintet in the morning, we take a taxi which brings us to the Hohner office.  With the guidance of the Hohner staff there, we walk for 15 minutes to the Konzerthaus.  We are warmly greeted by Mr Maik Berchtold, the main contact with the organizer in the past couple of months, Mr Gerhard Muller, the head of organizing committee, and Mr Arnold Kutzli, the president of F.I.H., the organizer.

Arriving at the home town of harmonica - Trossingen for the World Festival ... on the way from Hohner office to Konzerthaus.

We are then given a ride to the Conservatory where the practice session is held.  We are overjoyed to meet Mr and Mrs Yasuo Watani again whom we first met in the last World Festival and to have Mrs Watani accompany 2 of us in the solo competition (we have 4 entries).  The practice session goes well through the afternoon.

Towards 7pm, we return to the Konzerthaus for the opening ceremony.  The ceremony consists of  welcome speeches by the Mayor of Trossingen and Mr Kutzli, with interludes of harmonica/accordion music presented by the local harmonica orchestra.