A musical journey full of emotions
From July 14 to 25, 2024, we, the Baden-Württemberg State Wind Orchestra, undertook an impressive concert tour to South Korea.
The occasion was our participation in the renowned WASBE conference in Gwangju, a globally recognized meeting place for the symphonic wind music scene.
The WASBE (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) brings together conductors, composers, publishers and numerous other experts who are committed to the further development of this genre.
For us, this trip not only offered the opportunity to present ourselves on an international stage, but also represented a significant cultural enrichment.
Musical highlights in the first week
The first week of the trip in particular was characterized by numerous musical highlights.
On the second evening, we had the honor of being received by the German ambassador to Korea, Georg Schmidt, and meeting him and local politicians.
In a festive atmosphere, framed by the sounds of selected LBO ensembles, we experienced a warm exchange and were deeply impressed by the South Korean hospitality.
This special evening, characterized by first cultural impressions and a festive setting, will remain a special memory for all participants.
The next day, we visited Dankook University.
After a tour of the campus and some time for rehearsals, the focus of the visit was the joint concert with the university’s musicians.
We first presented part of our program, while the university orchestra then performed works.
Together, the two ensembles performed “Variations on a Korean Folksong” by John Barnes Chance and the popular work “Armenian Dances Part 1” by Alfred Reed.
The joint orchestra thus created an extraordinary musical experience that brought the spirit of international understanding and intercultural cooperation to life.
Another important event was the composition competition, which took place as part of the WASBE conference.
We performed three selected works by international composers to determine the winner of this competition.
These performances offered all participants valuable insights into new and innovative compositions in symphonic wind music.
Despite the numerous concerts by international orchestras such as the BYU Wind Symphony, the Adelaide Wind Orchestra, the Central Washington University Wind Ensemble, the Philharmonic Wind Orchestra Singapore and the United States Navy Band, our own concert on July 19 was of course the big highlight for us.
The orchestra presented its program ‘Wildflowers’ in front of almost 1,000 enthusiastic and cheering listeners.
The atmosphere in the concert hall was electrifying, characterized by emotional moments that deeply touched both musicians and audience.
Never-ending applause, photos with musicians from other orchestras and numerous conversations after the concert made this day unforgettable for the LBO.
Parallel to the concert, we published a professional recording of our program on YouTube.
Cultural discoveries beyond the stage
In addition to the performances in Gwangju, we had the opportunity to visit the cities of Seoul and Busan as well as stop off at a Buddhist temple.
These experiences enabled us to get to know the country’s impressive hospitality and the diverse cultural facets of South Korea.
The concert tour of the Baden-Württemberg State Wind Orchestra to South Korea was a formative experience in many respects.
Musically, the orchestra represented German and European symphonic wind music at the highest level and impressed not only the concert audience but also the experts with this outstanding and very emotional performance.
In addition, the trip offered the opportunity to make unforgettable encounters and experiences, make new friends and experience the unifying power of music across cultural borders.
This trip enriched us not only as musicians, but also as people, and will remain an inspiring experience for everyone involved.
Many thanks to our sponsors, donors, supporters and fans!
