German musicians here for series of concerts

By NAOMI WASE
A GROUP of young accordion musicians from Germany are in the country to hold concerts and workshops.
The 20-member Akkodeon Harmonists musical team arrived on Wednesday for a three-week visit, including a visit to the Solomon Islands.
Music director Volkmar Thermer said they were not just here for visit and collect good memories from Papua New Guinea but to learn something as well.
“This visit is also for these young people to learn and know the cultures and the traditions of Papua New Guinea,” Thermer said.
The team will be travelling to Rabaul, East New Britain, then to the Solomon Islands, Western Highlands and Chimbu and back to Port Moresby before going back to Germany.
They will be hosting concerts at Bomana prison, Marriaville secondary school, Caritas and Technical Secondary during their stay in Port Moresby.
Akkordeon Harmonists consists of musians whose ages range from 15 years to 32 years.
A member of the group, Br Reto Wanner, introduced PNG to the group, which led to their decision to tour the country. “I made presentation about Papua New Guinea to them and they were fascinated about it.
“So, they developed the idea to come here,” Wanner said.
He was with the Akkodeon Harmonists for two years before coming to Papua New Guinea and worked at the Don Bosco Technical Institute.