75th Anniversary Jubilee Festival of the Pater-Haspinger-Musikkapelle

A celebration for the 75th anniversary of a landmark Val Casies band

On the weekend of July 11 and 12, 2026, the village of San Martino/St. Martin, in the municipality of Valle di Casies/Gsies (Bolzano province, South Tyrol), hosts the Jubilee Festival for the 75th anniversary of the Pater-Haspinger-Musikkapelle. This is one of those quintessential South Tyrolean village festivals where a brass band is more than just a group of musicians; it is the beating heart of the valley's identity. For two days, the Val Casies community gathers around its Musikkapelle to celebrate three-quarters of a century of shared history.

A band with over seventy years of history

The band traces its roots back to 1951 and was officially established on November 23, 1952. In 1955, it took the name Pater Haspinger Musikkapelle, in honor of Joachim Haspinger, the Tyrolean Capuchin friar who was a key figure in the 1809 uprising—a name that firmly links the ensemble to the historical memory and identity pride of Tyrol. Since then, the band has been woven into the life of the village: from the new Puster Valley folk uniforms in the 1950s and early awards at provincial band competitions to the inauguration of the Pater Haspinger monument in 1960 and the grand anniversaries celebrated over the decades.

Today, the Pater-Haspinger-Musikkapelle brings together about sixty musicians in traditional Puster Valley Tracht and is led by Kapellmeister Georg Lanz, from Dobbiaco/Toblach, who has been at the helm since late 2024. Throughout the year, the band accompanies the religious and civic life of the village and hosts regular events such as the traditional Pentecost concert (Pfingstkonzert), which ranges from classic brass band repertoire to more modern pieces.

The festival program

The festival weekend spans two days: Saturday starting in the afternoon (from 3:00 PM) and Sunday from the morning (from 11:00 AM). As is tradition for South Tyrolean band festivals, the program includes live music under the marquee, performances by the host band and invited local groups, and convivial moments with local cuisine and specialties, with the full participation of the community and local associations. The detailed program for the 75th-anniversary edition, including times and guests, will be published by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.

San Martino in Val Casies

The festival takes place in San Martino/St. Martin, one of the hamlets of the municipality of Valle di Casies/Gsies, a side valley of the Puster Valley nestled among the meadows and woods of the Villgraten Dolomites, in one of the most authentic alpine settings in South Tyrol. Here, the culture of Blasmusik and brass bands is an integral part of the social fabric: an anniversary like this becomes an opportunity for the entire valley to come together and for visitors to discover a living, deeply rooted tradition.