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Delegation from Riesa, Germany Visits Sandy, Orchestra Conductor Makes Debut

Jan 04, 2016 01:25PM ● By Stacy Nielsen

By: Stacy Nielsen

Sandy - A delegation from the Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen, an Orchestra from Riesa, Saxony in Germany, finished up their weeklong visit to Sandy on Oct. 19, as they are one of Sandy City’s two sister cities.

“Sister cities started under the Eisenhower Administration to exchange culture and business opportunities, and we’ve had a wonderful cultural exchange with Riesa since 2002,” Mayor Tom Dolan said. 

In 2012, Mayor Dolan invited the American West Symphony to send a proposal to celebrate the 10th anniversary since establishing a sister city relationship with Riesa in October 2002, and they were selected to do a conductor exchange. Last year, Joel Rosenberg, the conductor of the American West Symphony & Chorus of Sandy, visited Riesa and performed three concerts. This past October, Christian Voss, the chief conductor of the Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen Orchestra, made his debut in the United States, performing three concerts right here in Utah – including an original piece that he performed at the new Mt. Jordan Amphitheater. 

The delegation consisted of Christian Voss, Arndt Steinbach, administrator of the Meissen District, Susanne Voigt, director and chairman of the board of “Riesa and the World” (Sister City Association), Annarose Bossack, member of “Riesa and the World” and Jorg Richter, a musician Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen.

Charlotte Jordan, the chair of the American West Symphony, hosted the delegation from Riesa as they toured national parks in Utah, had breakfast with Mayor Dolan and the  city council at city hall, went to Snowbird for a tram ride and even went to the Real Salt Lake game at Rio Tinto. 

 “I think it will be an ongoing thing.” Jordan said, as she recalled her visit to Riesa last year and speaking on the delegation’s visit and hopes that exchanges continue to take place in the future. 

“We had a wonderful visit; many (of the delegation) had not been here before. We look forward to our next visit,” Dolan said.