Kastelruther Spatzen
The Kastelruther Spatzen (German for Kastelruth sparrows) are a musical group from South Tyrol, northern Italy, who have won many honours and awards for their schlager in folk music style. Members. The Kastelruther Spatzen were formed in 1976 by Karl Schieder, Walter Mauroner, Valentin Silbernagl, Oswald Sattler, Ferdinand Rier and Anton Rier. Anton Rier left in 1977, and Norbert Rier joined as the drummer in 1979. Ferdinand Rier left in 1980 and was replaced by Albin Gross. In 1983, with this line-up, they released their first single, "Das Mädchen mit den erloschenen Augen", which was awarded a  golden disc. In 1986, Karl Schieder left the group to pursue another career, and was replaced by Karl Heufler. In 1991 Rüdiger Hemmelmann joined the band as a drummer. In 1993, Oswald Sattler left for a solo career, and was replaced by Andreas Fulterer, who left five years later also for a solo career. He was then replaced by Kurt Dasser. Karl Schieder. Karl Schieder is the founder of the Kastelruther Spatzen and played the baritone. In 1986 he left the band for personal reasons. Valentin Silbernagl. Valentin Silbernagl was born on 18 June 1956 in Kastelruth and played for  eight years in the Musikkapelle Kastelruth before joining the Kastelruther Spatzen. He married in 1982 and has three children. Walter Mauroner. Walter Mauroner was born on 20 June 1956 in Bolzen and played for fifteen years in the Musikkapelle Kastelruth before joining the Kastelruther Spatzen, where he plays the trumpet. He married in 1984 and has two children. He is the owner of the fan shop, the "Spatzenladen", in Kastelruth. Oswald Sattler. Oswald Sattler was born on 7 December 1957 in Kastelruth, and played guitar and sang with the Kastelruther Spatzen until he left them in 1993. He started a  solo career in 1996, and has won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik once and the Goldene Stimmgabel twice. He sings with the group Die Bergkameraden and won the German national round of the Grand Prix der Volksmusik with them in 2009 to reach the final. Ferdinand Rier. One of the original members of the Kastelruther Spatzen, Ferdinand Rier left the group in 1980 to start a family. Anton Rier. One of the original members of the Kastelruther Spatzen, Anton Rier was the first member to leave the group, in 1977. Norbert Rier. Norbert Rier is the lead singer of the  Kastelruther Spatzen. He was born on 14 April 1960, is married to Isabella and has four children, with two of whom he has recorded songs - Marion in 1994 and Andreas in 2004. He joined the Kastelruther Spatzen as drummer and singer in late 1979. In May 2006, his autobiography was published, "Danke Fans! Die authentische Autobiographie des Kastelruther Spatzen Chefs", BLV Buchverlag, München 2006, . He is the uncle of Denise Karbon and Peter Fill. Albin Gross. Albin Gross was born on 2 April 1955 in Kastelruth. He married in 1980 and has three daughters. Before Karl Schieder brought him into  the Kastelruther Spatzen in 1980, where he plays keyboard and accordion, and is also a composer and lyricist, he performed with the Seiser Buam. Karl Heufler. Karl Heufler was born on 23 September 1959 in Kastelruth. He married in 1984 and has two children. He played in the Musikkapelle Seis am Schlern and in the Schlernsextett before he joined the Kastelruther Spatzen in 1986 as a replacement for Karl Schieder, playing bass guitar and horn. Rüdiger Hemmelmann. Rüdiger Hemmelmann was born on 13 March 1966 in Würzburg. Since 1991 he is the drummer of the Kastelruther Spatzen. Andreas Fulterer †. Andreas  Fulterer was born on 27 February 1961 in Kastelruth and joined the Kastelruther Spatzen in 1993, when he replaced Oswald Sattler and left again in 1998. In his solo career that followed, he moved away from folk music to schlager. He died on 26 October 2016 after he suffered from lung cancer. Kurt Dasser. Kurt Dasser was born on 8 February 1958 in Bolzano. He worked for twenty years in Bolzano as a mathematics and biology teacher. He is divorced and has a son. He plays guitar and sings with the Kastelruther Spatzen. Kastelruther Spatzenfest. The Kastelruther Spatzenfest is a  concert which has been held annually since 1984. In 2005 there were approximately 30,000 people attending it.