Jubiläumsfest 225 Years Musikkapelle Auer

A celebration for the 225th anniversary of the Musikkapelle Auer

In May 2026, the village of Ora (Auer), located in the Bassa Atesina area of the province of Bolzano, celebrates a milestone of rare importance for South Tyrolean community life: the 225th anniversary of the Musikkapelle Auer, the local music band founded in 1801. To properly celebrate this achievement, the band is organizing a three-day Jubiläumsfest from May 15 to 17, 2026, at Heinrich-Lona-Platz, in the heart of the town. This is an extraordinary festival, not a standard annual appointment: a unique event designed to bring together citizens, guest groups, and partner bands.

One of the oldest bands in South Tyrol

The Musikkapelle Auer is considered one of the oldest brass band formations in South Tyrol. While its 1801 founding date is passed down through oral tradition, municipal archives from the 17th century already testify to how deeply rooted musical practice is in Ora. A decisive turning point came in 1922, when the musical direction was taken over by Sepp Thaler, a composer and conductor who profoundly shaped the band's history. A special concert in his honor is scheduled for June 9, 2026, on the church square, marking 125 years since his birth.

The festival weekend program

The jubilee weekend offers a rich calendar alternating between social moments, concerts, and ceremonies:

• Friday, May 15: From 6:00 PM, opening of the festival with an 'aperitivo lungo' and an evening of music animated by DJ MIDOS.
• Saturday, May 16: From 4:00 PM, concert by the Musikverein Kasendorf (Germany) and the Bürgerkapelle St. Michael Eppan (Appiano); from 9:00 PM, entertainment with the group Rifflblech.
• Sunday, May 17: From 11:00 AM, a solemn procession leading to the festive mass on the church square, followed by a parade to the festival area and the official ceremony; entertainment with the Banda Folk di Folgaria and, at 2:00 PM, a closing concert by the Musikkapelle Algund (Lagundo).

Between brass band tradition and conviviality

True to the tradition of South Tyrolean band festivals, the event combines music, local gastronomy, and a sense of community. The presence of guest bands from Germany and other parts of South Tyrol renews the twinning bonds that animate the world of South Tyrolean Musikkapellen, while the Sunday procession and festive mass highlight the strong link between musical life, community, and local identity that characterizes Ora and the entire Trentino-Alto Adige region.