Fravino's anniversary year closed
On Sunday, November 22 the Fravino orchestra closed its 50th anniversary year with a Eucharistic celebration in the chapel, and a festive presentation in the recreation room of the brother house Holy Marie in Huijbergen. Led by Marieke de Vries the orchestra, consisting of 26 members, expressed their gratitude for the role of the brothers in the history of the orchestra. The initiative taken by brother Acharius in the year 1959 was further developed under the leadership of Brother Mathias after 1968. He added a horn section to the orchestra, which was a big musical enrichment. In 1987, the musical direction moved into the hands of Peter Meijers. Originally an accordion player, he specialized himself into the phenomenon accordion when he was conductor of Fravino. In the seventies and eighties different performances were cared out for Dutch radio and TV. Even long players were published in those days. 
Besides the orchestra whose members average age is 36 years, the Fravino foundation founded also a music school and a second orchestra named Fravinova, a combination of Fravino and Nova in May 2002. This ensemble consists of young and less experienced members developing their musical skills first before they can become a member of the Fravino orchestra.
It is nice to see an initiative which has been carried further for fifty years by enthusiastic volunteers. Since the autumn of 2001 Fravino praises itself happy to be assisted by a very experienced conductor, Marieke de Vries. She is a talented accordion player and provides leadership to the region orchestra Fravino and the Fravinova orchestra. Marieke and the two orchestras are successful in making music together in a pleasant way and still succeed to keep the quality of the repertoire. We wish all the members and the board of Fravino a harmonious future. More information is available at:
http://bergenopzoom.digicity.nl/Muziek/Fravino
