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The Musikverein Leonding was founded in 1926 by the military musician Emil Merth and a few music enthusiasts. In 1949 Karl Moser took the chair of the society and was responsable for the increase of the musical standard during the following years.
In 1953 another change took place and the new bandmaster Oskar Klinger as well as the new representative Heinrich Strasser turned out to be energetic and prudent leders with the society benefitting.
From 1962 to 1965 Otto Wimmer was the conductor of the Musikverein Leonding. On a concert trip to the netherlands the band was able to win the "The Blue Ribbon of Holland". After this first short intermezzo with Otto Wimmer, Fritz Hartmann became the new bandmaster.
In 1969 the long-standing representative Heinrich Strasser, who had
provided the first international relations, died all of a sudden.
Dr. Arthur Seipelt took his place and continued Strasser"s work in the same ambitious manner. During his period the Trachtenkapelle Leonding
reached a very good reputation. Dr. Seipelt focused on the support of
young musicians, which led to stable and even improving musical
performance of the band.
One year after Leonding was raised to a city
the Trachtenkapelle was celebrating its 50th anniversary organizing an
International Music Celebration with both demanding and extensive
events, lasting an entire week.
The same year the new bandmaster Erich Mikes got in charge. He led the band until 1981, when Otto Wimmer once
more became conductor. To him and his predecessors the society owes a
series of first ranks with distinction, from 1966 to our days
(referring to the district's yearly band concert competitions).
After having been representative for more than 20 years, Dr. Seipelt handed over the representation of the Stadtkapelle Leonding to the young and ambitious musician Franz Heiler. The brave musical achievements of the previous years led to an invitation to the "Austrian band Competition 1993" representing Upper Austria at Feldkirchen/Carinthia. The Stadtkapelle reached the first rank in concert and in marching. In 1995 Mag. Maximilian Froschauer became representative of the society.
Conducting the Autumn concert 1996 a great era ended: Otto Wimmer, having been conductor of the Stadtkapelle for 15 years, was doing his farewell concert and handed over to Gerhard Reischl,
solo cornet player and director of the Landesmusikschule Leonding. With
the new conductor the musical performance at competions was continued
and the musical level held.
In 1999 the Stadtkapelle took part in the international competition at
Riva / Lake Garda, Italy. In spring 2000 the Stadtkapelle won the "Werner Brüggemann Interpretation Competition" against 11 conquering bands, on the highest level.
In
January 2001 the band was awarded the 10th decoration by the Upper
Austrian government, one of the highest decorations awarded for
participating at marching and concert competitions.
In 2003 the Stadtkapelle Leonding was awarded the "Rudolf Zeman-Preis" by the Upper Austrian Band Association. The same year the Stadtkapelle held a concert together with the Brucknerorchester Linz (Dennis Russel Davies) playing a matinee at the Brucknerhaus Linz.
In 2003 the new rehearsal auditorium in the city hall of Leonding was inaugurated. A concert trip to Corfu round up this very active year.
In 2005 the Stadtkapelle competed at the International Brass & Wind Band Competition at Vöcklabruck/Upper Austria and reached the 4th rank.
The invitation to the 1. International Philharmonic Band Festival at Corfu,
originating from our friends, the Philharmonic Society Mantzaros, was
appreciated very much.
After accoustic improvements in the rehearsal auditorium and the
musical contribution to the 30th aniversary of the city Leonding, the Autumn concert became the high spot of the year. Together with the guest soloist, the international trumpeter Prof. Hans Gansch the Stadtkapelle played the Concert for Trumpet by Alfred Reed. About 1.500 listeners were enthusiastic about the performance of the musicians from Leonding.
The beginning of 2006 was also very sucessful. At the Concert Competition of the district Linz-Land at Pucking the Stadtkapelle reached 94,75 out of 100 points and gathered the 41th decoration
(on the highest performing level) in a row. Competing with compositions
as "Man in the Ice" of the soundtrack composer Otto M. Schwarz and
parts from "Bacchus on Blue Ridge" of Joseph Horrowitz, the jury as
well as the audience were convinced. Gathering almost the same number
of points, the Stadtkapelle also competed sucessfully at the Marching Competition in Alkoven, on July 10th, receiving a decoration.
At the end of spring season a remarkable concert
took place in the heart of Leonding. The Brass & Wood Night
in the atrium of the town hall was crowded to capaticity with a really
enthusiastic audience.
Playing music from "Mozart to Morricone" the Stadtkapelle was
performing a musical summernight dedicated to the band's "home
audience".
In autumn 2006 the Stadtkapelle for the first time took part at the Brass Comepition at the Music Austria Fair Ried. Gaining 92,92 points the Stadtkapelle placed second. The Autumn Concert was all about soundtracks. Presented by actor Ferry Öhlinger, famous scores were partly combined with screenings.
A workshop about Bohemain music, lead by Klaus Rappl marked tghe beginning ofthe season 2007.In March the Stadtkapelle sucessfully took part at the Competition of the district, playing the "Ouverture allemande" by Thomas Doss. The society's general meeting in April was dedicated to the elcetion of the new board and the honour of long term members.
That summer it was all about Open Air. At a concert in the local area Zaubertal, the Zaubertal March by local composer Thomas Mandl was presented for the first time. Two weeks after the Cultural Picnic at the Tower 9 (one of the remaining towers of the Maximilian fortification) took place, playing a concert together with the Big Band Wels.
The Autumn Concert 2007 which had "Made in Austria" as its motto, invited the audience to a trip through Austrian music history, from Schubert to Bruckner and Mahler, also including contemporary composers as Joe Zawinul and Thomas Doss. More than 1.400 people were especially captivated by the three solo singers taking part.
Springtime 2008 again was competition time. Taking part at the districts annual Band Competition, the Stadtkapelle gathered a decoration, playing the composition "Mont Blanc". In May the Marching Competition at St. Florian took place. As in the summer before the Open Air concert at Tower 9 marked the end of the summer season. This time the second part of the concert was played by the Big Band of the
Federal Music School Leonding.
At the Autumn Conert 2008 the Stadtkapelle staged original compositions for brass band, playing pieces of Thomas Doss, Gustav Holst, Otto M. Schwarz and others. The Photo Club Leonding contributed pictures of its members, making the concert an audio-visual event.
Springtime 2009 started sucessfully, as the Stadtkapelle could reach 93 points at the Concert Competition of the district, gathering a decoration once more.
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