MONROE - The Swiss Heritage Series of the Turner Hall of Monroe will present a performance by the Volunteer Fire Department Band (Band der Freiwilligen Feuerwehr Kropp) from Kropp, Germany at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 in the Grand Hall, 1217 17th Ave.
Known also as the Fire Brigade Band, the group is the musical ambassador of the town of Kropp, population 6,500, in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Established in 1892 by some musical firefighters just for their own entertainment and for marching, today the band consists of an interesting mix of 38 musicians, ages 15 to 74. The band's repertoire includes not only traditional brass band music, but marches, rock, pop and swing.
The band's appearance in Monroe is part of a mini-cultural exchange program through the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp located in Michigan's Manistee National Forest. In 2013, Kropp hosted 150 young American musicians, also through the Blue Lake Fine Arts exchange program. In return, 29 members of the Fire Brigade Band will experience a two-week slice of American life by staying with host families and performing concerts in several locations in Michigan, Milwaukee and Fond du Lac before arriving in Monroe on July 27, their last tour stay and performance before returning to Germany.
While in Monroe, the band members will also have the opportunity to attend the final summer concert of the Monroe City Band at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 28 in Twining Park with their host families.
The concert is open to the public. Admission is a $5 suggested free-will donation. Doors to the Grand Hall will open at 7 p.m. for general seating.
For more information, visit turnerhallofmonroe. org/shs.html or www.facebook.com/TurnerHallofMonroe.
Known also as the Fire Brigade Band, the group is the musical ambassador of the town of Kropp, population 6,500, in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Established in 1892 by some musical firefighters just for their own entertainment and for marching, today the band consists of an interesting mix of 38 musicians, ages 15 to 74. The band's repertoire includes not only traditional brass band music, but marches, rock, pop and swing.
The band's appearance in Monroe is part of a mini-cultural exchange program through the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp located in Michigan's Manistee National Forest. In 2013, Kropp hosted 150 young American musicians, also through the Blue Lake Fine Arts exchange program. In return, 29 members of the Fire Brigade Band will experience a two-week slice of American life by staying with host families and performing concerts in several locations in Michigan, Milwaukee and Fond du Lac before arriving in Monroe on July 27, their last tour stay and performance before returning to Germany.
While in Monroe, the band members will also have the opportunity to attend the final summer concert of the Monroe City Band at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 28 in Twining Park with their host families.
The concert is open to the public. Admission is a $5 suggested free-will donation. Doors to the Grand Hall will open at 7 p.m. for general seating.
For more information, visit turnerhallofmonroe. org/shs.html or www.facebook.com/TurnerHallofMonroe.