Mourning for Michael Eberwein: Bavarian folk music loses an idol

Mourning for Michael Eberwein: Bavarian folk music loses an idol

It is with great sadness that the folk music scene mourns the loss of Michael Eberwein, the fourth greatest leader of the Dellnhausen musicians. The talented musician and conductor died on Sunday night at the age of 62 after enduring a long and serious illness. He leaves behind his wife Gerti and his two sons Michael and Maximilian, who mourn him together with a large fan base. Eberwein, born in Dellnhausen near Au in 1962, was not only a virtuoso trumpeter, but also an important representative of Bavarian folk music, leading the group since 1990 after joining the Dellnhauser Musikanten, originally founded by his father, as a member in 1979.

Under his leadership, the formation recorded around 200 titles for Bayerischer Rundfunk and released 24 recordings. The Dellnhauser musicians enjoyed international fame and performed in countries such as Sweden, Indonesia, Japan, China, India and the USA. Eberwein's unique style and the musicians' unmistakable joy in playing made the performances special experiences. He has been honored with numerous awards for his outstanding achievements, including the Freising District Culture Prize and the Bavarian Culture Prize in 2019. He was also awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, an honor that recognizes his contribution to Bavarian culture.

A musical heritage and living traditions

Michael Eberwein was not only active as a musician, but also had an ear for the traditions and customs of his homeland. In 2004 he founded the Dellnhauser Folk Music Festival, which has since attracted around 25,000 visitors every year and has taken place every two years in Wolnzach since 2021. Unfortunately the event had to be canceled this year. Eberwein was a passionate supporter of folk music and collected a repertoire of around 300 handwritten folk music pieces, which was celebrated in 2013 on the 65th birthday of the Dellnhauser musicians.

But Eberwein didn't just leave his mark musically. He was also politically active and ran as the CSU's mayoral candidate in Au in 2002. Although he was defeated in the elections, his influence remained noticeable, as he was a member of the Au market council from 2002 to 2008. He also worked for the city of Freising for many years and most recently worked as head of the citizens' office and election officer.

Final appearance and legacy

His last musical appearance on Bavarian television on May 25, 2025 as part of the program “Wirtshausmusikanten” will be remembered by many. Eberwein knew how to connect people through music and pass on his passion for folk music. He will be remembered not only as a musician, but also as a person who loved and supported his homeland.

At a time when culture and customs are increasingly being lost, Eberwein's death is a bitter loss for Bavarian folk music and the community in which he lived. From now on, the Dellnhauser musicians and their fans will live on with his memory and his musical legacy.