3rd October - Singing Together

Singing by candle light in Wuppertal, Photo: Susanne Seiler / UEM

More than 700 people came together on 3 October on Laurentiusplatz in Wuppertal to celebrate the anniversary of German unification. The programme was introduced by the Wuppertal gospel choir "NewCityVoices" under the musical leadership of Tine Hamburger and the poetry slam artist Petra Halfmann. In the evening, well-known songs such as "Die Gedanken sind frei" (Thoughts are free) or "Oh, Happy Day" sounded across the place in front of the Laurentiuskirche and invited people to sing along. They were accompanied by the 3rd October Project Choir, led by Annelie Herrmann.

Jörg Spitzer, officer for church music of the United Evangelical Mission and one of the organisers of the event, described the evening: "Music brings us together! Many hundreds of people from different backgrounds came to the largest place in Wuppertal to sing and listen to texts together. About growing together, about gratitude, about freedom. A great atmosphere! Hope lives first! For a peaceful togetherness. In Wuppertal, in Germany and far beyond."

The so-called "Thank You Demo" on 3 October in Wuppertal was opened by the City Mayor Uwe Schneidewind and was under the patronage of Helge Lindh (MdB). It took place for the third time this year: At 275 locations in Germany, people sang together at the same time. In Wuppertal, as in previous years, the sing-along event is supported and organised by the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), the Protestant Singers' Association and the Evangelical Alliance. The event is supported by the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal and the Wuppertaler Stadtwerke. Christiane Rüffer from Radio Wuppertal moderated the evening.

Many thanks to all participants, supporters and singers for a successful and atmospheric evening. We are looking forward to next year!

On YouTube you will find a video with some impressions.