The Norddeutsches Blechwerk e.V. charity is a network of professional brass players who have set themselves the goal of promoting art and culture, especially brass music, in orthern Germany. This network is not limited to Schleswig-Holstein; it extends from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea over several federal states. In this form of support, the Norddeutsches Blechwerk e.V. is unique in Germany.

We organize, among other things, various support measures for children and young people in the promotion of elementary and gifted children and encounters of musicians of all generations, such as the Horn Days, which have been held annually since 2016, and the Brass Academy, which was added in 2023. Brass players meet for a weekend or longer to get to know each other, make music together and exchange ideas. Supporting programmes of concerts, training courses, sheet music and instrument exhibitions complement these weekend activities.

In order to support instrumental teachers in smaller music schools or in rural areas, the Norddeutsches Blechwerk provides instruments that normally cannot be easily procured. For example, there is a custom-made children’s horn, which can be adapted to the size of the children and used as a “bridge” to the double horn. On the occasion of the Year of the Tuba, children’s tubas have now been purchased with the help of the Hans Thomann Foundation. These can be rented if no instruments are available in the institution in question. This is particularly aimed at instrumental teachers who teach tuba “outside their subject”. For this purpose, the Blechwerk will also offer training courses this year.

We would like to thank the Hans Thomann Foundation for this donation, and we hope to continue to inspire many more children for brass instruments.

Report: Johannes Borck
Photo: www.marcoschroeder-fotografie.de