Schallwelle Preis - New election!

Right before christmas the new online-voting for the "Schallwelle -Preis 2009" has been opened now.
Everybody can feel free to give his vote for the "Best CD 2009" and for the "Best artist/act 2009".
The listeners choice can be done via this link "Schallwelle-Preis 2009" between 20th of december 2009 and 20th of january 2010. So this is enough time for your careful choice.

The new ceremony will be held again at "Ledigenheim Dinslaken". Tickets for this evening can be ordered at the following E-Mail address from "Schallwende Verein". You can also find more additional infos on the website of "Schallwende Verein", which is of course the main organizer of this event.
One thing is clear at the moment: the "Special Price 2009" will be given to "Ashra" and presented by last years winner "Winfrid Trenkler".
So this event will be again a meeting of good old friends and collegues.

Please do not hesitate now and make your election.
Thank you for your attention.

Schallwelle - Preis

In continuation of the once by Winfrid Trenkler initiated “Schwingungen-Wahl" (as part of its WDR radio broadcast "Schwingungen") the “Schallwende Verein” (association of Sylvia and Klaus-Ulrich Sommerfeld) came up together with musician "Stefan Erbe" to revive the idea of creation of a new prize for the best artists in the field of electronic music. This idea was supported by many
sponsors who have a strong connection to electronic music (record companies, factories, media etc.).

In recent months, the fans had the opportunity to elect on the Internet their newcomer or their artist of the year. In addition, a special prize was awarded. And of course, it went to the man of the first hour itself: Winfrid Trenkler.

To make things short: the event was a full success. Not only because the event had already been sold out many weeks ago and not only because it was a meeting of the “who-is-who” of the genre of e.m. It was mainly a success, because it was so perfect organized. The premises, the program with music by "Klangwelt”, "Maxxess" and by "Lost In Loops”, the moderation of Sylvia Sommerfeld and Stefan Erbe: everything was perfect. The guests were in a good mood, and there were many opportunities to meet colleagues after many years again. My reunion with Winfrid Trenkler was very warm and we have promised to us to meet again in Berlin. I look forward to it.

...with Winfrid Trenkler

So here are the winners of the elections:

Best CD 2008
David Wright - Dreams and Distant Moonlight

Best Artist 2008
Spyra

Best CD Listeners Choice 2008
F.D. Project - Heavens Gate

Best Artist 2008 Listeners Choice
Tangerine Dream

Best newcomer
Ambient Circle

Special award
Winfrid Trenkler

Once again congratulations from me to the winners.

Yes, and then there were the speeches, which were held in honour of the award winners. My personal highlight, and certainly the highlight of the evening was the laudatio by Harald Grosskopf, who had the honour to speek for Winfrid Trenkler. They know each other since many decades. This was a special moment and you could see how deeply touched Winfrid Trenkler has been.

...holding a speech

I hold the laudatio for the artist of the year 2008 - Wolfram Spyra - and gave some personal advices about the pitfalls of the music business which I know. I believe the audience was amused.
The original speeches are now ONLINE to read on the website of the “Schallwelle – Preis”. However, it will only be in german language.

Overall it was a great event and I am sure that in the next year everyone will be upset, which can or will not be able to participate.

Finally, a few links to recent reports on the event:

DERWESTEN – Portal der WAZ Mediengruppe

MusikZirkus – Magazin

Musicianslife Magazin

EMPortal

YouTube

Hello friends,

since yesterday, you can also watch to some of my older videos on my new YouTube page.

Actually you can find there 2 videos made in 1991 und 1994, which were part of the "M.I. Rainbow Collection " CD/CD-ROM set. The first one shows some minutes of a concert, which I had given with Harald Grosskopf (drums) in the cologne "Stadtgarten" venue. The second video was made 3 years later in german town "Bocholt".
Both were made by Franz-Wilhelm Huendchen, a good friend of mine. Thank you for your help!

Also the "Octopus-Experience" article for german "Synthesizer-Magazin"is in progress and ready soon. I will meet the guys from the mag on saturday in Bielefeld during the "Electronic-Circus" festival.

See you there...