Sofas. Sofas

The trip of the International Exchange Committee, from May 1st to 3rd to Wallerstein, took about thirty musicians and a dozen middle school students. This trip was, therefore, marked by music and youth. Two buses left on Friday, May 1st to Wallerstein to be welcomed at 5 pm by the mayor Georg Stoller, and the German twin towns. The next day, two guided tours were organized: one in Ellwangen with a horticultural exhibition, the other for the musicians in Nördlingen, a medieval town. In the evening, the Couches Harmony from the Autun conservatory gave a very well-received concert. It should be noted the presence of Mr. Schürer, former mayor of Wallerstein and signatory of the twinning charter in 1997.

A typical meal accompanied by Wallerstein beer and embellished with French songs delighted the guests. Note the performance of an improvised choir made up of middle school students from Couches and some local counterparts.

On Sunday, a concert by the Birkhausen brass band performed Bavarian music pieces, before departing for Couches at 1:30 pm. The goodbyes were emotional, with the promise to meet again in Couches in 2027 for the 30th anniversary of the twinning. This trip benefited from the support of the French/German Citizen Fund.

During this stay, Jérémy Coquard, mayor of Couches, stated upon his return: “I remember the warm and friendly atmosphere created by everyone, Germans and French alike. The good mood and the playful spirit of our group of middle school students who seem to have experienced a beautiful intercultural experience. Also, I was very touched by the kindness shown by our Wallerstein friends in welcoming me as the new mayor.” In his speech, the mayor wanted to “acknowledge the value of this intercultural exchange that has been maintained for three decades and that conveys a message of fraternity between peoples beyond borders.”