Wind Orchestra Swarovski Wattens

As the name suggests, Swarovski Musik Wattens has two defining origins. Firstly, the orchestra is part of the historical heritage of the famous crystal company Swarovski. The ensemble began around 1900 as "factory music". To this day, there is a profound partnership between the company and the orchestra. The second important home is the market town of Wattens. Here, Swarovski Music is actively involved in social life. Beyond Tyrol, Swarovski Musik Wattens is one of the most renowned amateur brass orchestras in Austria. This is also evident in international competitions, such as the prestigious Flicorno 'd Oro in Italy, in which the Swarovski Musik took part in 2014 and 2019 in the senior category, achieving third place in both. The orchestra's musical focus is on symphonic wind music, from classical to contemporary. In addition, Swarovski Musik Wattens always shows its wide musical range, depending on the occasion, and delights fans of traditional brass music with marches and polkas, or lovers of modern light music with film music or big band swing. Almost since the beginning of the association's history, Swarovski Musik Wattens has also been recorded, from early recordings to current CD recordings, sometimes as a live recording, sometimes as a studio production. The most recent production is the CD / vinyl LP "Visions", released in 2019, which also features the eponymous "Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra", written by the Belgian composer Bert Appermont on behalf of Swarovski Musik. Swarovski Musik Wattens was also featured in various TV appearances and reached an audience of millions, especially with Austrian music. Swarovski Musik Wattens currently has about 60 ensemble members. What unites them all is mutual motivation, shared commitment and outwardly expressed joy in music. The orchestra is particularly proud of the enormous musical potential in its own ranks and the first-class soloists. 

Stefan Köhle has been a music teacher at the LMS Landeck since 1994, where he teaches clarinet and musicology as well as a conducting class. In 2001 he completed his studies on the clarinet and in wind orchestra conducting at the Innsbruck Conservatory. His further conducting studies took him to Trento (ISEB, Felix Hauswirth, Jan Cober and Carlo Pirola ) and on to Maastricht (Maastricht University of Music, Jan Cober), where he completed his university education with a "Postgraduate Diploma" (Masters). Various master classes have taken him to Spain, Germany, Italy and Slovenia with Isbaell Ruef-Weber, Jan Cober, Douglas Bostock, and Johann Mösenbichler. Köhle is in demand as a guest conductor and is active as a juror at various international competitions. With "Landeck Wind", the youth wind orchestra of the Landesmusikschule Landeck, he celebrated outstanding successes at the Austrian Youth Wind Orchestra Competition. Since 2010, Köhle has been the coordinator of ensemble conducting for wind orchestras at the Tyrolean Music School Association, where he is responsible for conducting training. Since January 2016, he has been conductor and artistic director of Swarovski Musik Wattens.