20 years of Seegrund Ahlbeck: A festival of maritime sounds on the lagoon!

20 years of Seegrund Ahlbeck: A festival of maritime sounds on the lagoon!

On September 10th, 2025, the shanty choir “Seegrund Ahlbeck” celebrated its 20th anniversary with a festive event on the picturesque Ueckermünder Lagoon. The celebration was a happy get-together with friends, sponsors and partners who have supported the choir over the years. Chairman Holger Raue paid tribute to the members and their families for their tireless commitment and great support.

A big thank you also went to the “Seegrund Ahlbeck” restaurant and the Eggesin cultural workshop, who always had an open ear for the choir’s rehearsal rooms. Without the financial support of the Sparkasse Uecker-Randow, the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, the Vorpommern-Fonds and private individuals such as the Berndt family from EDEKA and Dr. Bahr from Pasewalk such an anniversary would not have been possible.

Memories and outlook

During the ceremony, founding member Bernd Heinrich reminisced about the last two decades and earned many laughs with his humorous anecdotes. Former members who are no longer able to participate actively for health reasons were also honored at this event. Despite the statutes excluding female members, women also sang at this festival alongside men, which underlined the warm and open atmosphere.

In recent years, the choir's musical accompaniment has also changed: where a ship's piano once accompanied the joy of singing, there is now a small band that ensures the right rhythm. Reinhard Schattmann, the musical director, was impressed by the reliability of the musicians, who are on average 76 years old. “Nevertheless, they are young at heart and full of passion,” he explained. The choir wishes to celebrate many more celebrations together in good health and to continue to cultivate the maritime songs with joy and commitment.

Shanty choirs like the "Seegrund Ahlbeck" are not only popular near the coast, but are also very popular inland and even in Switzerland. This shows the diversity of the shanty culture, which has developed beyond simple work songs. The choirs, often founded by former sailors or active sailors, maintain this tradition and bring it closer to a wider audience. Those interested can find further information about the activities and members of the shanty choirs on the website of the German Shanty Choir Association.

Especially with the Norddeicher Shantychor, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, it is clear how popular this form of music has become. There, maritime songs were sung in a happy atmosphere and the seafaring history was kept alive, as Ostfriesischer Kurier reports.

The festival of the “Seegrund Ahlbeck” shanty choir is more than just an anniversary celebration – it is a sign of the stability and joy in shared music that has brought many people together over the years. The maritime songs remain popular, and the members and guests alike agree: it was a festival that will be remembered.