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60 years of Gera-Sliven: A celebration of friendship and music!
Gera celebrates 60 years of twinning with Sliven: musical encounters strengthen cultural exchange and friendship.
60 years of Gera-Sliven: A celebration of friendship and music!
The friendly bonds between Gera and Sliven shine brightly again, because the second half of October 2025 was a very special highlight. A delegation from Gera, led by Mayor Kurt Dannenberg, traveled to the Bulgarian city to mark the 60th anniversary of the town twinning. The celebrations were characterized by encounters, concerts and excursions that celebrated not only solidarity but also cultural exchange. Mayor Stefan Radev and City Council Chairman Dimitar Mitev unanimously confirmed their desire to further deepen the partnership.
In his speech, Dannenberg emphasized how important partnership is for mutual dialogue and understanding. A highlight of the events was the presentation of a friendship certificate and a traditional candle arch with a Gera motif. This symbol represents light, stability and the community of both cities and will certainly find a place of honor.
Music as a bridge between cultures
A special musical festival brought together young talents from Sliven and the Heinrich Schütz Music School in Gera. This concert was part of the “Music instead of Street” project, which has been supported by Georgi Kalaidjiev since 2008. It offers children from disadvantaged families in Bulgaria an important perspective through music lessons. Bernd Krüger and the journalist couple Lange have made a significant contribution to ensuring that this project is also well received in Gera.
Since then, “music children” from Sliven have performed numerous performances in Gera and have consolidated their integration into the local community. Sliven, with a population of about 80,000, is known not only for its textile industry, but also for its cultural aspirations, which were further boosted by Bulgaria's accession to the EU in 2007. However, the residents of the Roma neighborhood “Nadezhda” face major challenges as many are unemployed and rely on odd jobs. The educational opportunities offered by “Music instead of Street” open up paths for children that go beyond the boundaries of their neighborhood.
Successes and prospects
What makes the project special? Children like Zwetelina, Fanny and Veli completed their music education at the Burgas Conservatory with top grades and are on the list of the Sofia Music Academy. They have not remained idle: Georgi has been regularly visiting his protégés in Bulgaria since 2020, encouraging them and offering individual lessons. The successes speak for themselves, two children took the entrance exams for music schools in Burgas and Stara Zagora.
The combination of culture and social responsibility will also shape the upcoming “Golden Diana” music festival in Yambol, in which Georgi and his protégés will take part. And at the Fete de la musique 2022, “Music instead of Street” will play the opening concert in the Johanniskirche, once again demonstrating their important role in intercultural exchange and the promotion of young talent.
Ultimately, the friendship between Gera and Sliven is evident not only in the past, but also in the living present. Through commitment and music, it will become a bright part of the future of both cities, as Gera.de reports. The “Music instead of Street” project contributes to the positive development of the community and is an example of how important cultural exchange and social support are, as Studio Gera describes.