(Minghui.org) The Tian Guo Marching Band, which is composed of Falun Dafa practitioners, performed at Stephansplatz in Vienna, Austria, on August 29, 2025, and at Helmut-Zilk-Platz the next day. Many people said they enjoyed the music and some said it was something they hadn’t heard before. “Very good music, I only listened to it for a few minutes and felt my soul had gone to a different place. I also saw someone meditate, which I don’t often see in Vienna. I want to learn more about Falun Dafa,” one person said. Another person said, “The music is amazing, and so is their discipline and their uniforms, which attract our attention.”
Many consider Vienna to be the music capital of the world. The Waltz can be heard as soon as one gets off the plane, and live music performances are often seen on the streets. While the members of the Marching Band were getting ready at Stephansplatz on the evening of August 29, crowds began to gather in anticipation of the performance.
The Tian Guo Marching Band performed at Stephansplatz on the evening of August 29, 2025 until late at night.
You Convey Beautiful Messages Through Music
Nefise Koc who works in the travel business, moved with the beat while she listened to the Marching Band perform. “The music is amazing, and different. I can feel its uniqueness and it impressed me,” she said. The coordinated movement of the members also caught her attention. “I can feel they are sending out a message to the audience through music. I am not sure exactly what it is. This is the first time I heard it. I can feel that it radiates a peaceful energy, and has a healing effect,” she said.
Practitioners handed out flyers which had information about Falun Dafa and the ongoing persecution in China while the band performed. They also collected signatures on a petition. It urged the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to end the persecution and stop harvesting organs from practitioners who are incarcerated for refusing to renounce their faith. After Nefise learned that practitioners were persecuted for following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, she said, “I can’t believe that something like this is happening in China. I signed the petition and I hope that more people can learn about it and help end this. I will share this with more people. The more signatures you get, the more positive feedback will come, so more people will get involved to help end it.”
Nefise said she could feel that, “The practitioners are doing their best to spread the information. The more people see or hear about this, the more information they’ll get, and the more they’ll understand what is happening in China.” She said that the practitioners did a great job “by using such activity to protest the persecution and raise awareness. I hope the whole world will hear about it,” she said, “It’s not easy, and miracles don’t just happen. It takes time, but I really wish the persecution could end.”
Musician: Everyone Should Abide by Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance
The Tian Guo Marching Band performed at Helmut-Zilk-Platz near Vienna State Opera on August 30, 2025.
People were drawn by the music and stopped to watch the Tian Guo Marching Band perform. They signed the petition after learning about Falun Dafa and the ongoing persecution.
The Tian Guo Marching Band performed at Helmut-Zilk-Platz near the Vienna State Opera on August 30, 2025. Practitioners displayed posters, handed out flyers, and collected signatures on the petition.
Margit Urbanetz-Vig, a musician, said she was drawn by the music, “The music is beautiful and peaceful,” she said. She explained that she went to China to perform with her band, and it was the first time she heard about Falun Dafa and the persecution that started 26 years ago. When she was told about Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, the principles of Falun Dafa’s teachings, she said, “They are wonderful, unique and everyone should abide by them, especially those in power. The important thing is that people act based on them.”
After she signed the petition, she said, “I grew up in Hungary, and I know how cruel the communist party can be. The CCP’s persecution pains me, we humans should not be dictated by a superpower.”
Young Musician: Lyrics Convey Important Messages
Two practitioners played and sang a song they composed. A young German girl Viola Hacker, said she was drawn to the lyrics. She finished her music major in Vienna and plans to perform opera. About the lyrics she said, “It says that life is not just about wealth, which I felt was a very important message. Life is also about human nature and relations with others, and not just money and power.”
Viola has a certain understanding of Falun Dafa because the family of a good friend of practices Falun Dafa. “The principles of the practice is very good, and I believe they can be carried out in life. Many of Falun Dafa’s teachings are very good, like no alcohol. It doesn’t force you to do that, but you choose freely if you want to do it.”
When talking about her Falun Dafa friends, Viola said, “Because they have faith, they act very differently from other young people their age. They are responsible, don’t drink or party all day, and they care about others.”
She signed the petition to show her support for the practitioners’ effort to end the persecution. She said the persecution is, “Too brutal. It’s beyond description. It tramples human rights, and forbids people from having different thoughts, even if they don’t hurt anyone.”
Thankful for Such an Event That Brings Us Hope
The parade brought Falun Dafa to people in Vienna’s city center.
Practitioners also held a parade in the center city of Vienna. The Tian Guo Marching Band led the parade and practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises and carried banners which had information about Falun Dafa. The goal was to tell people about Falun Dafa and raise public awareness of the ongoing persecution in China.
Neonila from Ukraine works in the financial sector, and Mariana from Spain works in logistics. They were moved after they heard that the practitioners inthe Tian Guo Marching Band spent their own money and spare time to learn how to play musical instruments, print the flyers and make the banners.
Neonila said, “To be honest, you should feel proud. What you do is very brave. You are doing something for your country and your people. Not everyone would do this. It’s very easy to stand idle and do nothing.” She continued, “Everyone here is courageous and wants to contribute, which I think is very important. It shows that persecution is an important topic, and this topic must be taken seriously. I am very touched, and thank you for the brilliant parade.”
Mariana agreed, “Yes, seeing people still have faith and values makes me feel good and gives me hope. Such an event is what brings us together. Well done.”
Claudia and Maria signed the petition. Claudia said, “When we heard that the CCP harvests people’s organs without using anesthetics, we were so shocked. We have to do something to stop such injustice.” They also enjoyed the event, “It’s great, and it combines music with important messages. It’s great that you are doing this. It makes people feel that there is love and warmth in this world.”
Practitioners from more than ten European countries took a group photo after the event.
It began raining lightly that afternoon. Some practitioners stayed and took a group photo. They thanked Master Li Hongzhi for the successful event.
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