The orchestra was disbanded in 1963 and replaced by two ensembles:
the ‘Trossinger Akkordeon-Ensemble’ under Rudolf Würthner, consisting of five accordion soloists and one harmonica soloist
the ‘Trossinger Elektronische Ensemble’ under Kurt Gelück, also with five players and a drummer.
There were many reasons for the dissolution:
- From around 1960 onwards, Hohner’s interest had increasingly shifted to the construction of electronic instruments. As a result, artistic accordion playing was no longer the focus for many years.
- Despite the great success of its concerts, the orchestra’s performances abroad did not generate the hoped-for sales figures, although this was not the fault of the orchestra and its conductor, but rather a problem of advertising strategy.
- Competition from top orchestras among amateur associations grew increasingly fierce – a development that the orchestra itself had ultimately set in motion through its role model function.
- It proved unrealistic to hope that the orchestra would bring the accordion into mainstream concert life.
The professional paths of the former members went in many directions:
- Many remained in music, either as ensemble members, teachers, orchestra founders, or similar.
- Some left Trossingen and turned to completely different professions as they rebuilt their lives.