Lisa Holzmann is Finalist in Kinder Grand Prix

Lisa Holzmann, who is the daughter of Josef Holzmann, is a finalist in the Kinder Grand Prix that is being held on July 11. We reported a few month ago that Lisa Holzmann was competing on the well known German TV show, Krone der Volksmusik, singing My Boy Lolliepop and asked our German readers to vote for this very talented young girl. As previously stated, Lisa's father, Josef Holzmann, was at Armin Homann's German Music Festival in Lake Villa last year.

For more info about the Kinder Grand Prix, go to Anneliese Breitenberger's website at: http://www.gpvolksmusiksuedtirol.it/ge/content.asp?CID=10008%2C10060 Lisa will be singing a song composed by the famous Gunther Behrle. Gunther Behrle is most famous for his hit, Patrona Bavarea and most recently last year's hit for Vincent & Fernando, Glaube an Gott. Lisa will be sining, Immer nur die Mailbox. We wish this very talented teenager success on July 11 when she competes in Sud Tirol.

Toi, Toi, Toi.

2009 Grand Prix der Volksmusik

Well, it is that time of year where the nominees for the annual Grand Prix der Volksmusik competition has started. As many of you know, each country (Austria, Germany, Sudtirol & Switzerland) will have a preliminary (vorentsteid) competition in their own countries and then send the top 4 to the final competion being held in Munich on August 29, 2009.

Happily, Vincent & Fernando are competing this year for Sudtirol again. Last year their song, Glaube an Gott was in a tie with the Klostertaler, and after 2 tie breakers they lost out. Hopefully, they will be successful this year. These talented brothers were the first entertainers I interviewed when Tim was still hosting the Stimmung Stunde. That interview aired in April 2004 and you can still hear it by CLICKING HERE. We certainly hope they make number one this year.

Also, Reiner Kirsten, from Germany, is competing. He was the featured entertainer on Ted Hierl's Hawaii Cruise in 2008. Many of the passengers enjoyed the Schwarzwald boy's beautiful songs and his charming personnality on that cruise and I know they will be rooting for him.

If you go to the Grand Prix website here are a few things to make note of. You might note the name Fabio Omero under Komponist and/or Text, that is name Rudy Giovannini uses to write under. Even Vincent & Fernando's song is from him this year. Also, note that Sauguat is competing this year ... again (they were disqualified last year).

The Germany listing shows Gunther Behrle as the author of the song that Claudia Dechant sings, Nimm diesen Ring. Judith & Mel's song, Liebe gibt - Liebe nimmt, was written by Mel Jersey. The music for the song that Benjamin Grund sings, In nomine patris, was written by Benjamin Grund. Claudia & Alexx are again among the contests and have gotten very close in the past. Those of you who watch German TV will notice that Florian Fesl is in the competition. He was on the Immer Wieder Sonntags show all summer and lost the competion the very last week.

Switzerland's Maria Da Vinci sings Jeder Herzschlag fuer dich. The music and text were written by Mario Wolf & Christoph Purtscheller, who are in the Alpentrio Tirol. I wonder why they did not have an artist from Austria perform their song.

Each country has announced their nominees and you will find them listed below or go to the Grand Prix website for more details. Note there are links to the singers' webpages below. Some of them even have samples of their songs at their websites that you can listen to.

Austria

Austria's vorentscheid will be May 30.

Natalie Holzner -- Alles fuer's Herz

Helga Frank -- Das Karussell dreht sich weiter

Pfarrer Franz Brei & Signum -- Das Leben...

Die Jungen Zillertaler -- Drobn auf'm Berg

Die Grubertaler -- Du darfst beim Autofahrn'n nit auf die Maedels schau'n

Bernd Roberts -- Hoer auf den Herz

Melanie -- I g'hoer nur dir

Zillertaler Gipfelstuermer -- Ich moechte mir Dir die Sunn aufgehn sehn

Leona & Swen -- Mach das nochmal mit mir

Yves -- Mama

Dunja -- Meine Liebe zu dir

Zellberg Buam -- Sing ma no oan

Andreas Gabalier -- So liab hob i di

Die Aufgeiger -- Sommerfieber

Steirerbluat -- Wir sind alle keine engel

Germany

Germany's vorentscheid will be on May 21

Vladimir Boldt -- Alle Sterne schaun Dir zu

Isartaler Hexen -- Brave Maedchen kommen in den Himmel

Zipfelbuben -- Das gibt sich bis 70

Bergkameraden & Oswald Sattler -- Ich traume von der Heimat

Benjamin Grund -- In nomine patris

Florian Fesl -- Lass uns wieder Freunde sein

Judith & Mel -- Liebe gibt - Liebe nimmt

Claudia & Alexx -- Mama, danke

Licht -- Mut zur Liebe

Claudia Dechant -- Nimm diesen Ring

Reiner Kirsten -- Signora Come stai

Rico Seith -- Tausen Augen Hoffnung

Schlagerfeuer -- Unsere Erde

Dorfrocker -- Unter'm Tanzboden sitzt der Teufel

Bel Amis -- Vaterunser

Sudtirol

Sudtirol's vorenscheid will be May 8.

Das Schlernsextett -- Andreas Hofer

Vincent & Fernando -- Der Engel von Marienberg

Die Vaiolets -- Die Blume die im Herzen blueht

Die 4 Suedtiroler -- Ein ganzes herz voll Jahresringe

Patrick & seine Freunde -- Ein gutes Wort

Konrad Goller & Corinne -- Farben der Liebe

Bergfeuer -- Himalaya

Samira Dalnodar -- Kinder und Blumen

Sauguat -- Mein Reschen am See

Die Pustertaler -- Ohne die Musig

Graziano -- Romantica

Die Hopfenmusig -- Sudtiroler Marsch

Volxrock -- Wenn du kannst

Alex & die Groedner Alphorn Blaeser -- Wenn i auf Bergeshoehen steh

Etschland Express & Marion -- Wenn ich die Berge seh

Switzerland

Switzerland's vorenscheid will be April 25.

Sarah Jane -- Bliib doch bi mir

Geni Good & seine Glarner Oberkrainer -- Chlefeler Schtimmig

Stefan Roos & Saengerfreunde -- Das Herz einer Mutter

Salvo -- Grad wie im 7. Himmel

Gruppe Plauschler - Ich kann nicht aufhoern dich zu lieben

Christian Duss -- Das Liebeslied der Berge

Maria DaVinci -- Jeder Herzschlag fuer dich

Roman Peters -- La vita e bella

Orig. Voralpen-Express -- sag mir das, sag mir was

Yasmine-Melanie -- Schenk' mir heut' ein bisschen Zeit

Pascal G -- Tu Mi Corazon

Michelle & Philipp mit Wirbelwind -- Wenn du mein Herz beruehrst

Lisa Holzmann will be on Krone der Volksmusik this Saturday

You might remember when Josef Holzmann appeared in Lake Villa, Illinois last June at the German-American Musik Festival. He is a very popular singer in Germany and spent a week in the Chicago area along with Gunther Behrle & Petra Boeck. Well Josef also has a very talented 11 year old daughter, Lisa. Gunther Behrle who also appeared at the German-American Musik Festival , and is famous for writting "Patrona Bavarea", recommended Lisa join a competition, which she won!

Lisa will be appearing on Saturday, January 10, on the Krone der Volksmusik. It is being broadcast LIVE on ARD at 20:15 German time. For those of you who subscribe to Shift TV be sure to record this program. We certainly will be watching and hope that this talented 11 year old does well. Lisa has often appeared with her dad on stage, but this performance will be ALL LISA. The people in Germany will be able to vote for their favorite Newcomer, so let your relatives know in Germany to vote for Lisa Holzmann.

Fur unsre Deutsch Sprache lesser, bitte vote fur Lisa Holzmann als Newcomer an Samstag, an Die Krone der Volksmusik . Toi Toi Toi, Lisa!

Here is a picture of Lisa's proud parents, Josef & Beate Holzmann, when Josef was performing at Lake Villa, Illinois (near Chicago) in June.

Congratulations Maria

We want to congratulate our friend and former Talent Coordinator for the Stimmung Stunde, Maria Olligies, She had a very successful event, the Schlagertreff, on October 2 where she procuced an evening with Vincent & Fernando, who placed 2nd in the Grand Prix der Volksmusik for the 3rd year in a row. Vincent & Fernando had a beautiful song "Glaube an Gott" that was written by Gunther Behrle. Also appearing on stage were Stefan Behrends, Marc & Loreen and Monika Klaaasen. The Schlagertreff took place at the Hotel Hagen in Haren Germany. Maria, and her husband, Heinz,were very happy with the turnout that evening.

A surprise guest was Armin Stockl. Many Chicago & Milwaukee residents have seen Armin at the Lake Villa Heimat shows hosted by Armin Homann, a Chicago DJ. Armin Stockl recently received the 2008 Deutscher Rock & Pop Preis and his popularity in Germany continues to grow, but we are happy that Armin Stockl is scheduled to be in Chicago in December for a Christmas show. When I have more details, I will post them here.

Marc Pircher fills the Hall in Berumerfehn

Our dear friend and former Talent Coordinator for the Stimmung Stunde, Maria Olligies, teamed up with Stefan Behrends to present the 2nd annual Musikparade. This year Marc Pircher provided the music on September 7 in Berumerfehn, Germany.

The hall had been sold out for months and as usual, Marc Pircher, had the place hopping. Just take a look at the pictures that are posted at Stefan Behrends website.

Next Maria has been getting ready for October 2 where she is producing an evening with Vincent & Fernando, who placed 2nd in the Grand Prix der Volksmusik for the 3rd year in a row. Vincent & Fernando had a beautiful song "Glaube an Gott" that was written by Gunter Behrle. If anyone is planning on being in Germany on October 2, give Maria a call to put some tickets aside for you. Vincent & Fernando will be appearing at the Hotel Hagen in Haren Germany. Maria, and her husband, Heinz, got some very nice local coverage in the newspaper. Just double click on the newspaper articles below, so you can read them.

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Congratulations "Semmi' & Ilona

Today I was listening the Ted Hierl's Radio show on the internet. Ted Hierl, a well-known radio announcer in New Jersey/Pennsylvania/New York, has organized cruises with famous German entertainers for 20 years. Those of you who have been on these cruises the last few years have gotten to know the Elstertaler band and especially "Semmi" & Ilona. Ted announced that Wolfgang Semmler & Elona were recently married in Essbach, Thuringen. Semmi & Ilona have been on many of these cruises and Semmi coordinates the entertainers and the Elstertaler Musikanten. Ted also played a taped interview with Semmi while he & his wife, Hilde, attended the wedding in Germany.


They will be on the next cruise in October that is going to Hawaii featuring Reiner Kirsten. So if you are going on the cruise to Hawaii be sure to congratulate them on their long awaited marriage.



If you would like to send the happy couple an e-mail of congratulations, just click below.

http://semmler-veranstaltungstechnik.de/include.php?path=login/mailer.php&userid=8

Grand Prix der Volksmusik - August 30

It's just 6 more days before the Grand Prix der Volksmusik is taking place in Zurich, Switzerland on August 30. All of you who have Shift TV, don't forget to record this program.

Of course, my favorites are the brother duo, Vincent & Fernando. They were the first entertainers that gave the Stimmung Stunde an interview and you can still hear that interview by clicking here - 1, 2, 3. Here is a link to Maria Olliges' fan club page, who was the Talent Coordinator for the Stimmung Stunde and still very active in the Volksmusik world. I have a video of the entry by Vincent & Fernando this year, Glaube an Gott, so you can have an advance peek at their entry. Gunther Behrle wrote this song and I was lucky enough to see him in Lake Villa in June.

If you would like to see what this year's contestents look like and in many cases sound like, click on the links below. Which one do you think will be the grand prize winner this year?

Austria
Udo Wenders --- Der Letzte Zug, Cara mia
Die Klostertaler --- Heimat is dort wo die Berge sind
4 Holterbuam & Die Mayrhofner --- Tiroler - Steirer Musimix
Stodertaler Gaudi-Express --- Volksmusik mus es sein
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Germany
Captain Cook --- Ich den so gern an meine Mutter
Die Schaefer --- Glaube ist...
Michael Klostermann/
...Die Jungen Orig. Oberkrainer --- Vom Egerland bis Oberkrain
Dorfrocker --- Und ab geht die Luzzi
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Sudtirol
Sauguat --- Der Schaefer vom Schnalstal (Disqualified) .
Bergfeuer & Judith --- Liebe ist ein Kind der Freiheit
Vincent & Fernando --- Glaube an Gott
Geschwister Niederbacher --- Die Alte Madonna
Bergdiamanten - Ein bisschen Gottvertrauen
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Switzerland
Oesch's die Dritten --- Die Jodel-Sprache
Kapelle Oberalp, Domingo Rey &
...Los Brillantes Paraguayos --- Lueg a moi
Christian Duss --- Komm ich zeige dir dei Sterne
Manuela Fellner & Urs Meier --- Lauf dem Glueck nicht hinterher