Saxon Wind Philharmonic Orchestra goes down well in New York

A dream has come true for the musicians of the Saxon Wind Philharmonic Orchestra in New York. The award-winning ensemble made a guest appearance at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York on Easter Monday. As part of the New York International Music Festival, the orchestra played pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Richard Wagner, among others, to enthusiastic applause in the famous concert hall.

It was a great honor to be able to make the trip to New York with his orchestra, chief conductor Peter Sommerer told dpa. "It is a great pleasure that our music has carried us all the way to Carnegie Hall."

Orchestra 2023 honored as Ensemble of the Year

The orchestra arrived with more than 30 musicians. The tuba and trombones, among others, had their own seats on the plane, according to a spokesperson. The trip was financed through crowdfunding.

The Sächsische Bläserphilharmonie is the only German professional orchestra that is only made up of wind instruments. Founded in 1950 as the Leipzig Radio Wind Orchestra, the musicians were awarded the prestigious Opus Klassik music prize as Ensemble of the Year in 2023.