Funda, Winfried

During my childhood I received 6 years of lessons on the accordion and then changed over to percussion instruments as our accordion orchestra urgently needed strengthening in this register. I acquired the necessary education for this endeavour at the municipal music academy. Later I obtained my qualification as a state-certified music teacher for percussion instruments at the music academy. For nearly 40 years I was active as a lecturer at the ''Niederrheinische Musik- und Kunstschule'' (Lower-Rhine School of Music and Art) in Duisburg (North-Rhine Westfalia), Germany. Numerous compositions and arrangements were created during this period including dramatical works (childrens' musicals) which were performed in the city theater.
Almost all of my compositions pursue an educational purpose and were often composed specifically for students or an ensemble who required them for personal development or for something ''distinctive'' at a competition. During the past several years I have been retired (but not tired) and am active as a percussionist and arranger in a 20-man Salon Orchestra.