The Air Force Band Erfurt (German: Luftwaffenmusikkorps Erfurt) is a German Air Force (Luftwaffe) military band founded in 1991 to provide musical support to the city of Erfurt and the German Air Force. Its area of responsibility spans across the German states of Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and northern Bavaria. The 56 member band has travelled internationally to concerts in Belgium, France, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, and the United States.[1][2] Its scope of duties include protocol operations such as state visits and military parades, as well as other events such as charity concerts.[3]

Air Force Band Erfurt
Luftwaffenmusikkorps Erfurt
Active15 March 1991 - Present
Country Germany
Allegiance Bundeswehr
Branch German Air Force
TypeAir force band of the Bundeswehr
RoleMusical Support/Raising the esprit de corps (morale)
Size56 members
Garrison/HQErfurt
ColorsBlue, Grey and White    
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Tobias Wunderle (Since July 2018)

The band has 6 ensembles:

  • Concert band
  • Egerland band
  • Brass quintet
  • Saxophone quartet
  • Clarinet quartet
  • Woodwind Trio

It emerged from the Central Band of the National People's Army Air Forces of the Military Music Service of the NPA In March–April 1991 as the Army Band 70 in Erfurt. It was renamed to the Heeresmusikkorps in July 1994 and the Military District Band III in October 2001. until the end of March 2015, it appeared as a military band music corps III. Since 1 April 2015, it has been called Air Force Band Erfurt. Just under a year earlier, on 30 July 2014, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced that the northern Thuringian Garnisonstadt Sondershausen military bands will be preserved in Erfurt and the resolution planned for 2017 will not be pursued.[4][5]

Conductors edit

  • Captain Georg Nitsche (1991–1993)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Bernd Männel (1993–2006)
  • Captain Christian Prchal (2006–2007)[6]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Roland Kahle (2007–2015)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Burkard Zenglein (2015–2018)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Tobias Wunderle (1 July 2018–Present)[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "German Air Force Band Erfurt". nstattoo.ca. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  2. ^ "Dienststellen der Streitkräftebasis: Startseite Luftwaffenmusikkorps Erfurt". kommando.streitkraeftebasis.de. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  3. ^ "Musikkorps: Volkslieder und Märsche aus der Mitte des Raumes". TLZ. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  4. ^ Stöckel, K. (2016). Meine Begegnung mit der Militärmusik: Die Militärmusikschule der NVA 1975-1990. Books on Demand. ISBN 9783739229959. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  5. ^ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Wehrtechnik (2008). "Wehrtechnik". Wehrtechnik Wt. 40. Wehr und Wissen Verlagsgesellschaft. ISSN 0043-2172. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  6. ^ "Document not found". kommando.streitkraeftebasis.de. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  7. ^ "Wechsel an der Spitze des Erfurter Luftwaffenmusikkorps | Thüringer Allgemeine". m.thueringer-allgemeine.de. Retrieved 2019-05-31.