Music brings nations together 

it is the big fanfare before take-off: three hundred young musicians from germany are preparing for their tour to south africa with a rehearsal weekend and concert. this is not their first international tour. jugendorchester & friends is the name of an orchestra comprised of up to three hundred young players from the new apostolic church western germany. every year in march or so, they meet for a three-day rehearsal, which usually ends with a public concert, as was the case last year. this year, the young musicians are particularly excited. this is because the rehearsals serve as preparation for their trip to cape town in south africa around easter. among other things, a concert with the youth choir of the new apostolic church southern africa (see video) is planned in the grand west arena, which can accommodate an audience of to 5,000. such visits have a strong tradition. youthorchestra & friends were already in cape town in 2014. in the same year, nac children choir from south africa was in germany and france for a concert tour. and in 2016 , children from the three countries took to the stage together. in the same year, a youth choir from the new apostolic church of central germany was in the cape, and in 2018 the youth symphony orchestra of north rhine-westphalia was there. the youth symphony orchestra of the new apostolic church switzerland also cultivated a lively exchange across national borders. in 2016 the ensemble was in cape town and in 2018 it was in buenos aires with the argentinian youth symphony orchestra. the return visit of the south americans followed in 2019. and then the swiss joined the west germans for a concert: in 2011 and 2016 in the south, and in 2015 in the north. the public concert after the youth orchestra & friends rehearsal weekend in preparation for their trip to south africa will take place this sunday, 23 march 2025, starting at 4.30 pm in the kelkheim town hall in germany. there will also be livestream of the concert:. photo: jessica krämer.