Delegations from Aberystwyth have travelled to Kronberg in Germany to begin commemorations marking the 30th anniversary of the two towns’ twinning, with plans already in place to return the celebration to Ceredigion next summer.
Musical exchange at the heart of celebrations
Over three days, from 31 July to 2 August, members of the Aberystwyth-Kronberg Twinning (AKT) committee, local musicians and the town’s mayor joined Kronberg residents for a programme of concerts, tours and community events.
Local performers included players from an Aberystwyth brass band and the Sgarmes group led by Elinor Powell. The brass players combined with musicians from a Kronberg band and pupils from the Altkönigschule to create a full brass ensemble for public concerts.
- Guided tour of the new Casals Forum conservatoire, with a demonstration by Sgarmes in the main concert hall.
- Official ceremony under the arches at Berliner Platz featuring speeches from both mayors and a presentation to Fritz Pratschke.
- Performances across Kronberg’s Weinfest weekend, with multiple sets at Berliner Platz, Recepturhof and Tanzhaus.
"Performances by the brass band and Sgarmes were very well received by the audience of about 300 Kronbergers."
Remembering those who built the link
Speeches during the official celebration paid tribute to Fritz Pratschke for his role in establishing and strengthening the friendship between the towns. He is credited with creating the school exchange programme that led to the formal twinning.
The Aberystwyth visitors took the opportunity to explore Kronberg’s new music facilities: the Casals Forum includes large and small concert halls, practice rooms and teaching spaces, and provided a striking venue for the visiting singers to demonstrate the building’s acoustics.
Looking ahead to June 2027
The events in Kronberg form the first part of the anniversary celebrations. The AKT committee says the main 30th anniversary will be held in Aberystwyth in June 2027, when friends from Kronberg will travel to Ceredigion to continue the exchange.
AKT attendance included six committee members and the Mayor of Aberystwyth, Cllr Emlyn Jones, reflecting the ongoing civic commitment to the partnership.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2026 | Guided tour of Casals Forum; evening ceremony at Berliner Platz |
| 1–2 August 2026 | Performances during Kronberg Weinfest at multiple venues |
| June 2027 | Main 30th anniversary celebrations in Aberystwyth |
For Aberystwyth, the twinning has been sustained through school exchanges and cultural visits that foster links between young people and community groups on both sides. The musical exchanges in Kronberg — in which pupils and local performers joined forces — underline the educational and cultural value the partnership continues to deliver.
Locals in Aberystwyth can expect visiting guests from Kronberg next summer, when the town will host the central anniversary events and associated performances. For the comparatively small but active AKT, the weekend in Germany has set the tone for next year’s programme at home: civic hospitality, opportunities for young people and performances that draw the towns together through shared culture.
Attendance at the German events was well supported by Kronberg residents, with roughly 300 people reported to have watched the performances at the Berliner Platz. The success of those sets is likely to increase anticipation among Aberystwyth audiences for the June 2027 celebrations.
Further details about the June programme are expected as planning progresses; AKT and Aberystwyth’s civic team will publish information nearer the time so local residents can take part in hosting their German counterparts.
