Salzburg military band marks 70 years after abolition threat

Salzburg Military Music is celebrating its 70th anniversary after seven decades of performing at festivals, military oath ceremonies, official receptions and concerts across the province, ORF reported.

Founded in 1956 in Elsbethen-Glasenbach with just 20 musicians, the band became an institution. In 2000, Waltraud Stöger became its first female musician, joining what had previously been an exclusively male organisation.

“It was exciting. I was really nervous,” Stöger said. “But that quickly faded, and we all got along well.”

The band was based at Rainer Barracks for more than half a century before moving to Schwarzenberg Barracks in 2011.

Three years later, its future was at stake when plans were made to abolish military music throughout Austria. Protests by musicians across the country ultimately succeeded in preventing the move.

Johann Schernthanner has served as the band’s military music director since 2022.