Cäcilienkonzert of the Musikkapelle Auer

The Saint Cecilia concert in Ora

The Cäcilienkonzert der Musikkapelle Auer is the evening that celebrates Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians, every November in Ora (Auer), a town in the Bassa Atesina (Unterland) in the province of Bolzano, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. It is an event deeply rooted in the South Tyrolean band tradition: the feast of Saint Cecilia has always been the moment when the local Musikkapellen gather to perform for their community and bring the year's musical season to a close in style.

One of the oldest bands in South Tyrol

The Musikkapelle Auer, or the Ora Wind Band, is one of the oldest ensembles in Alto Adige: it was founded in 1801 and has accompanied the civil and religious life of the town for over two centuries. Its history is tied to the name of Sepp Thaler, a historic conductor and celebrated composer of band music, author of well-known works such as Die Etsch and the Präludium Heroicum, to whom the town has even dedicated a street. Today, the ensemble is led by maestro Georg Pichler Giulay, who oversees its programs and major concert evenings.

Venue

The concert takes place in the Aula Magna of the Agricultural High School of Ora (Landwirtschaftliche Oberschule Auer), at Truidn 10, a hall that regularly hosts the town's musical events. The concert is aimed at the local community and fans of band music who wish to discover the repertoire of the Tyrolean tradition, consisting of marches, overtures, symphonic pieces for winds, and original compositions.

More than just the Cäcilienkonzert

The Cäcilienkonzert is the band's autumn concert, but the Musikkapelle Auer enlivens Ora throughout the year: from the spring Frühjahrskonzert to summer performances in the Main Square (Hauptplatz), and the Lange Dienstag evenings. However, the Saint Cecilia concert remains the most intimate and heartfelt, where the band performs in full in its home venue to honor its patron saint.