Anniversary of the former Wismut company orchestra in 2027
When the wind orchestras of the Aue mining company and the Aue mining equipment company merged in 1967 to form the United Wind Orchestra Wismut Aue, no one could have guessed what an eventful history today’s Miners’ Wind Orchestra Aue-Bad Schlema would have.
In its founding year, the newly established orchestra was already faced with a challenge. It had to premiere ‘Die Seilfahrt’ (The Rope Ride), a commissioned work by the uranium mining company SDAG Wismut. The musicians were supported by the Hartenstein male choir. The orchestra successfully participated in the Workers’ Festival, which takes place every four years, where it was awarded five gold medals for its high standard of performance.
Reunification also brought about significant changes for the company orchestra. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Stefan Richter, together with the president and conductor Heinz Gaede, the instruments were secured in consultation with the managing director of Wismut. They became the property of the music association ‘Blasorchester der Stadt Aue’ (Aue City Wind Orchestra), which was newly founded in 1990. Support from music lovers at the Herrenberg Town Band in Baden-Württemberg was also helpful in this regard.
Even before the once world-famous Schlema radium spa attempted to rid itself of the consequences of mining and regain its former glory, the association changed its name in 1993 to reflect its forward-looking approach, becoming the Schlema Spa Miners’ Brass Band. After the spa town merged with the neighbouring district town of Aue in 2019, the orchestra also took the name of the largest town in the Ore Mountains and has since been called the Bergmannsblasorchester Aue-Bad Schlema. The new standard, featuring the town’s colours and the new logo, which also includes the new town coat of arms, proudly displays the year of foundation, 1967.
The miners’ brass band is celebrating its anniversary in the year of the State Garden Show, which has also developed from a former mining town into today’s health resort. Because our festival grounds will be the car park for the Saxony State Garden Show, we will be celebrating the 34th European Brass Band Festival from 15 to 17 October 2027.