Mid EUROPE 2024: A Look Back at a Successful Anniversary
Tuesday, 23.07.2024
Schladming and Haus im Ennstal were once again the center of one of Europe's largest wind music festivals, Mid EUROPE, from July 9 to 13, 2024. This year, the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary and the theme of "togetherness" – the connection of peoples through music.
Johann Mösenbichler, the artistic director of Mid EUROPE, emphasized: “The festival represents boundless music. This wonderful diversity of national and international wind music, in any form, only works through 'togetherness'. Unfortunately, in our current societal development, this is becoming less and less. However, the music clubs show how it’s done: listening to each other, responding to each other, and acting together with measure. Therefore, for Mid EUROPE, in the words of Friedrich von Schiller: All men become brothers – music is the connecting element.”
63 concerts and many highlights
Around 1,500 musicians from 21 nations and 5 continents offered locals and guests a varied wind music program. A total of 63 concerts took place, including indoor concerts at the congress Schladming, open-air concerts, and church concerts in Haus im Ennstal.
The atmosphere and sense of community during Mid EUROPE were unique as always. Highlights this year included the children's concert at the congress Schladming under the motto "Sounds in Uniform" and the impressive anniversary concert on Wednesday evening at Wetzlarer Platz Schladming with the Military Music of Upper Austria and the Grand Ducal Military Band of Luxembourg under the title "The Dream of an Austrian Reservist". A special highlight for many locals and guests was once again the "Long Night of Music" – the Schladming city festival. Thousands of visitors enjoyed night shopping and entertainment in the heart of the city with performances by a total of 19 different music groups.
The grand finale concert of the World Youth Wind Orchestra on Saturday evening impressively showcased what the young musicians from around the world had learned during the week in various workshops in Schladming.
You can review this year's Mid EUROPE with the best impressions - click HERE!
Looking forward to 2025 and the return of the Schladming TATTOO March Show
The date for next year is already set: Mid EUROPE 2025 will take place from July 8 to 12 and promises to be another musical highlight, including the comeback of the grand march show – Schladming TATTOO – featuring outstanding national and international marching bands.
Mid EUROPE 2024 has once again demonstrated how music connects people from all over the world and how the networking of national and international wind music creates a great musical experience.