MONROE - The Fire Brigade Band from Kropp, Germany, on tour in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, gave their U.S. farewell performance Tuesday at Turner Hall in Monroe.
The band performed seven concerts in 17 days in five Midwest communities during its trip made possible through a cultural exchange program of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan's Manistee National Forest.
About 30 of the band's 40 members made the overseas trip and have stayed with local host families during the tour. For many of them, it was their first visit to the United States.
Ten families opened their homes to the band members for their stay in Monroe.
"We are overwhelmed by the hospitality of our hosts," said Holger Schwien, the band's tour leader. "Opening your houses and arms and welcoming us, thank you for opening your hearts."
Schwien said learning about the culture of a region is important and enjoyable, but they want to "emphasize the social aspect of the trip."
"Because of the efforts of our host families, the success of the visit is special," he added. "For all of our members' first time in the United States, being with a family is a good opportunity to learn the American way of life."
The band members range in age from 14 to 74, and together create an arm of Kropp's volunteer fire department.
Johannes Rasmussen, the band's director and an ex-police officer, said all the musicians are volunteers and meet once a week to practice their wide variety of music. They perform about 40 concerts a year in Germany; plus, as a part of the fire brigade, they perform special gigs for fire department members' events. The fire department has about 100 members.
"We consider ourselves ambassadors," Schwien said.
The personal connections made during the exchange tours are sometimes maintained for a long time, he added, "and the people stay in touch, especially the young people."
Karen Fowdy, Monroe, who arranged the home stays for the visiting musicians, began her search back in May. A former German teacher in the Monroe School District, Fowdy said she still has some student exchange program contacts, and she also put out the word in church bulletins and to other organizations for host families.
The host families are as varied as their guests, said Fowdy. "Some have small children, while others have empty bedrooms, because their children are grown," she said.
The families and their guests are free to plan their days together as they want. Blue Lake International Exchange Program does not plan tours for the visitors, because that would take away the purpose of a home stay.
"The value of a home stay is that you can see the country in a way you could never see it as a tourist, not without a host family," Fowdy said.
The band performed seven concerts in 17 days in five Midwest communities during its trip made possible through a cultural exchange program of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan's Manistee National Forest.
About 30 of the band's 40 members made the overseas trip and have stayed with local host families during the tour. For many of them, it was their first visit to the United States.
Ten families opened their homes to the band members for their stay in Monroe.
"We are overwhelmed by the hospitality of our hosts," said Holger Schwien, the band's tour leader. "Opening your houses and arms and welcoming us, thank you for opening your hearts."
Schwien said learning about the culture of a region is important and enjoyable, but they want to "emphasize the social aspect of the trip."
"Because of the efforts of our host families, the success of the visit is special," he added. "For all of our members' first time in the United States, being with a family is a good opportunity to learn the American way of life."
The band members range in age from 14 to 74, and together create an arm of Kropp's volunteer fire department.
Johannes Rasmussen, the band's director and an ex-police officer, said all the musicians are volunteers and meet once a week to practice their wide variety of music. They perform about 40 concerts a year in Germany; plus, as a part of the fire brigade, they perform special gigs for fire department members' events. The fire department has about 100 members.
"We consider ourselves ambassadors," Schwien said.
The personal connections made during the exchange tours are sometimes maintained for a long time, he added, "and the people stay in touch, especially the young people."
Karen Fowdy, Monroe, who arranged the home stays for the visiting musicians, began her search back in May. A former German teacher in the Monroe School District, Fowdy said she still has some student exchange program contacts, and she also put out the word in church bulletins and to other organizations for host families.
The host families are as varied as their guests, said Fowdy. "Some have small children, while others have empty bedrooms, because their children are grown," she said.
The families and their guests are free to plan their days together as they want. Blue Lake International Exchange Program does not plan tours for the visitors, because that would take away the purpose of a home stay.
"The value of a home stay is that you can see the country in a way you could never see it as a tourist, not without a host family," Fowdy said.