The Cologne Orchestra inspires with a modern symphonic accordion sound, from classic to folk and world music to pop songs. This will be their concert program for your enjoyment once again. Always inspiring, the orchestra will fill you with a sense of awe. Following an hour of concert favorites the group will break down into smaller combos and continue with a program for your dancing enjoyment.

Matthias Hennecke is the conductor and leader of the First Accordion Orchestra of Cologne, since 1997. The Orchestra is one of the oldest as well as one of best known in Germany and has today more then 45 active accordion players.

Frequent performances in 18 states of Europe as well as in Germany have received critical acclaim, contributing to the popularity of the Orchestra both at home and abroad. Visits to the United States in 1967, and to South Africa and Namibia were among the greatest artistic challenges in the earlier years. Other musical highlights were concert tours to Prague and Warsaw in Poland, Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania, Daugavpils, Latvia, and even to St. Petersburg, Russia in the early 90’s. There was a third and fourth overseas tour to Brazil in 1997 and Kimberley, Canada in 1999. In 2008 the orchestra will start a new tour to Canada, to Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Kimberley, Kelowna and Vancouver. The First Accordion Orchestra of Cologne has always received excellent reviews at National and international music competitions. Along with others, a special task of the

Orchestra is to take care of their common musical heritage. The Orchestra represented the German Harmonica Association during the presentation of the “Zelter-Plakette” award by the President of the German Government. It has a well-rounded repertoire of more than 200 pieces of music satisfying different musical tastes and expectations. More than 70 pieces have been produced and recorded in collaboration with the “WDR”, Germany’s public broadcasting corporation.