The orchestra was founded in 1919 as a youth group.

The founders were mainly teenagers, hence the orchestra called itself "youth orchestra". The orchestra had to cease activities under fascism in 1937. After the war bgan the reconstruction of the orchestra, led by conductor Fanz Saltuari. Since the median age of the members had risen considerably, the orchestra decided in 1967 to rename itself to "Musikkapelle Bozen".

After the renaming the orchestra chieved a significant quality improvement, thanks mainly to conductors such as Reinhard Kaneppele and Toni Pichler-Giulay. The actual conductor Alexander Veit took charge of this position over 20 years ago. With him the orchestra participated in recordings with the RAI, in a live concert with the Austrian ORF and two CD recordings - and increased the image and quality of the orchestra further.

A sensational success was the participation at the 13. South Tirolean musik festival, where the orchestra achieved in the highest category and against international competing orchestras the highest ranking.

In november 1996 the orchestra changed its name one last time, to
STADTKAPELLE BOZEN.