Former German President Walter Scheel passed away

The former German President Walter Scheel died on Wednesday at the age of 97 years after a long illness.

With a great sadness INTERKULTUR says goodbye to a friend and great promoter of choral music: Walter Scheel. 1919 born in Solingen Scheel began his political career in 1946 by his accession to the FDP, and was appointed its chairmen in 1968. Over the decades, he served as a city councilor, state, federal and European deputy, as Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation, Foreign Minister, Vice-Chancellor and finally from 1974 to 1979 as the 4th President of the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition to his love of singing, his great political merit made him popular as well as over decades unforgotten: In 1973 he records the folk song "Hoch auf dem gelben Wagen" for a good cause organized by the “Aktion Sorgenkind”. Alone until spring 1974, the disc was sold more than 300,000 times.

As Honorary President of INTERKULTUR and the World Choir Games Scheel felt closely connected with the choirs in the world, he promoted their cultural commitment and the peaceful exchange across all borders. For more than a decade, Walter Scheel supported INTERKULTUR with word and deed. Wherever he was able to support he promoted the idea of unifying choral competitions and festivals. "With Walter Scheel the choral world loses a unique personality, a great statesman and wonderful person. INTERKULTUR has so much to be grateful to Walter Scheel, we bow to his life's work, our thoughts are with his family and we will hold his memory in the highest honor", so INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch today.