2022 Profound Arts Festival Music Competition
Artistic Director and Chief Juries:
Panel Members:
Invited Juries:
(Final jury arrangement subject to the judges’ schedule available)
Studied solo piano at the Academy (now University) Music and Drama in Vienna with Paul Weingarten and Richard Hauser, vocal accompaniment with Erik Werba and Chamber Music with Otto Schulhof.
Concerts and broadcasts in many European countries, (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, former Jugoslavia, Spain and Portugal),and Asia.
Began his teaching career in 1954.
1955-1964 Professor of Piano at the Carinthia Conservatoire in Klagenfurt.
In 1964 he was appointed to the teaching staff of the Academy of Music and Drama in Vienna.
From 1964 to1970 he was Director and Professor of Piano at the affiliated branch of the Vienna Academy in Kabul, Afghanistan
Since 1970 he has been Professor of Piano at the Vienna Academy (now University) both in the departments of Education and Solo Performance
In 1980 and 1986 he was a guest Professor in Shanghai, China. Held Masterclasses , Seminars, lectures and courses in Austria, Germany, Greece, China and Taiwan. Annual courses at the International Music Seminar in Vienna.
His pupils are performing and teaching at Music Colleges and Universities in many parts of the world, e.g. USA, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Europe .
Jakob Gruchmann (*1991) is professor of composition and vice rector of the Gustav Mahler Private University in Klagenfurt, Austria. He studied with Gerd Kühr and Johannes Maria Staud. An already very extensive and varied catalog raisonné shows an intensive collaboration with important ensembles around the world, such as the Quatuor Tana or the Toyko Philharmonic Orchestra. Regular projects connect him with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. As a prizewinner in very differently oriented competitions (including the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award), his compositional work represents musical diversity. In 2017, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation wrote about him in an article: “Gruchmann is one of the great hopes for composition in Europe.”
Otto Sauter is well-known as one of the world‘s leading trumpet soloists. As a specialist on the piccolo trumpet, the German musician has already appeared in all major concert halls.
Otto Sauter‘s musical talent was encouraged at an early age: born on the shores of Lake Constance, he was given his first trumpet lessons when he was only 4 years old. At the age of 16 he continued his musical training with Claude Rippas at the Winterthur Conservatoire, where he received his teaching and orchestral diploma in 1984 and his soloist diploma one year later. After graduating, Otto Sauter pursued further studies with Bo Nilsson in Sweden and Pierre Thibaud in Paris.
From 1988 until 1998 he was appointed principal trumpet in the Bremen State Philharmonic Orchestra. With this orchestra he played soloconcerts such as the German Premiere of the „Strathclyde Concerto“ for Trumpet and Horn of Peter Maxwell Davies tgether with Markus Wittgens (Horn) conducted by Peter Maxwell Davis himself. In this north German City, he
devoted a lot of energy to furthering the careers of young artists. Since 1991 he has been artistic director of the annual Bremen International Trumpet Festival, which is one of the world‘s leading events for brass players. In 1994 Otto Sauter founded the Bremen Trumpet Academy, which under his guiding hand offered the most gifted young trumpet players from all over the world a unique training programme. Sauter also was invited for guest professorships at international universities like the Bremen Academy of Arts, the Royal Academy London, the Toho Gakuen School for Music Tokyo, the Toho Gakuen Orchestra Academy Toyama, the Universidad Metropolitana de Santiago de Chile and the Universidade Federal do Amazonas. In 2014 he founded the World & European Brass Association of
international Brass Festivals, Universities, Orchestras and renowned musicians to support Brass Music in Concerts, Masterclasses and Professional Exchange worldwide.
Otto Sauter is one of the most sought-after soloists on the piccolo trumpet. In December 1995 he played with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London in the presence of HRH Prince Charles at St. James‘s Palace. 1998 saw him giving a guest performance at the Vatican as part of a concert to mark the foundation of the ‚German Society for the Restoration of the Vatican Art Treasures‘. In August 2000 he played in St. Peter‘s Square for Pope John Paul II. and 50.000 visitors together with the Philharmonia Hungarica during the Festa Musica Pro Mundo VNO. Since spring 2001 he plays regularly with his own cycle of spiritual music „Elevazione Spirituale“ at the Vatican. In April 2001 Otto Sauter played together with the China National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muhai Tang in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
When UNICEF-Germany celebrated its 50th anniversary, Otto Sauter decided to initiate and give a series of concerts in the most beautiful and important churches all over Germany. He also played the opening gala-concert of the „Schafhof-Festival“ for UNICEF of Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, the former World Champion in dressage and winner of the Olympic Gold Medal, in cooperation with the Hesschische Rundfunk Frankfurt.
Each year he invites renowned international artists like Montserrat Caballé or Bobby McFerrin, to give a joint concert for the „Otto Sauter Foundation“, at the Classic-Open Air of the „Hohentwiel-Festival“ on the shores of Lake Constance.
With EMI Classics, Otto Sauter started his CD series of world premiere recordings „World of Baroque“, with concerts from his music collection containing about 600 rediscovered compositions of baroque and early classical masters like A. Scarlatti, G. Reutter or J. M. Molter, that were not peformed in the last 250 years.
Besides the baroque repertory, Otto Sauter dedicated himself to the enlargement of contemporary original literature for piccolo trumpet. He commissioned works by Julien Francois Zbinden, Harald Genzmer and Jan Koetsier. In 2004 he presented three world premieres of pieces of the Czech composer Juraj Filas, whose teacher was a student of Dvorák. Two of them took place on the Beethoven Fest Bonn: The concert for piccolo trumpet and symphony orchestra, with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, that was characterized as „Music as emotional vehement as Mahler and melodic as beautiful as Puccini“ (Bonner Rundschau) and Filas‘ „Apassionata“ for trumpet and organ. In the Berlin and Cologne Philharmony, Otto Sauter premiered the trumpet concerto for piccolo trumpet and symphony orchestra, the international renowned Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis wrote for him, in October 2008 (directed by Gert Hof/arrangement Robert Gulya).
In 2016 he premiered Ikarus, Desire for Light – Concert for Piccolo Trumpet and Symphony Orchestra, written by the German composer Enjott Schneider for Otto Sauter in a Ring Premiere at the Amazon Opera House in Manaus/Brasilien followed by Teheran, Istanbul, Kiew, Philadelphia and Gdansk.
Following his motto „Remarkable Music Needs Remarkable Places“, Otto Sauter celebrated the inauguration of the first „Wartburg-Festival“ in May 2004. On the legendary Wartburg – the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, where Martin Luther translated the bible – he invited good friends and internationally reknowned artists like Lucia Aliberti, Justus Frantz, Klaus Mertens, Matthias Eisenberg, Spanish Brass, The Power of Parsifal, Ten of the Best and many more to join in a fascina-ting festival. In 2014, he takes over the Artistic Direction of the Neuschwanstein Festival, in one of the most famous castles in the world, built by King Ludwig II. in Bavaria, Germany.
In July 2005 Otto Sauter inaugurated the first international choir- and music festival „Musica Sacra a Roma“ in Rome and at the Vatican. Because of its symbiosis of masterpieces of arts and culture, the festival became a unique event in the fascinating scenery of the „Eternal City“ of Rome and the Vatican. World stars in music, like the Italian Soprano Lucia Aliberti, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, the organ players Michael Schönheit and Christian Schmitt and many more, came together with 32 choirs from more than 20 nations in exclusive festival concerts all in Rome‘s most beautiful and important churches, to set a sign for ecumenism and the unification of all nations in the world. Patron of the festival is Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifi cium Consilium De Cultura, Vatican.
In 2006 – on the occasion of the 250th birthday of W. A. Mozart – he initiated the „Little Amadeus & Friends Aktionstag“ for German grammar schools together with Peter Will the television producer of the succesful children’s TV series. The cartoon series was awarded with the „Echo Klassik“ for children in 2006. The project under the protectorate of the German Mozart-Society aims at familiarizing children with classical music in an entertaining way. The „Little Amadeus & Friends Aktionstag“ is supported by several important German institutions: Deutscher Musikrat, DOV, BDMV, Deutsche Phonoakademie, VDS, VdM etc. In 2007/8 he started as artistic director the „Little Amadeus Live“ concert series and played 80 concerts in 40 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In addition to his work as a soloist, Otto Sauter regularly causes a sensation with his ensemble „Ten of the Best“, which brings ten of the world‘s best trumpeters together under one roof. They regularly go on concert tours in Japan, the USA and Europe. In August 2001 they launched the inauguration of the new Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, with a fanfare especially composed for Europe’s most modern football stadium, in front of 70.000 spectators. Highlight 2006 under his Artistic Direction was the „Playtime Live City Concert Tour“ during the Football World Championship supported by the Organising Committee FIFA World Cup 2006. The festival took place under the patronage of Dr. Theo Zwanziger (Vicepresident OK FIFA WM 2006) all over Germany and was launched from the FIFA to demonstrate and celebrate the diversity and hospitality of Germany. The festival presented a music selection of the great football continents in 16 concerts (free of charge) in cities like Bremen, Ludwighafen, Trier, on islands like Rügen or Norderney, and at representative public places as well as historic sites like the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden, Semperoper or the market place in Händel’s hometown Halle. At the festival Otto Sauter presented „Ten of the Best plus one“ that on request of the FIFA was adjusted to 11 players like a football team and „The Power of Parsifal“, an All-Star Team of renowned international jazz musicians, both appearing with the symphony orchestras of the concert cities.
Otto Sauter works with Orchestras and artiststs like e.g.: RSO Prag, RSO MDR and HR, Tscheque Philharmony, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, Bachcollegium Leipzig, Sinfonia Varsovia, Wiener Kammerorchester, Münchner Kammerorchester, Staatliches Orchester Kiew, Cappella Istropolitana, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Poppen, Marcello Viotti, Hugh Wolff, Roman Kofmann, Mikis Theodorakis, Edita Gruberova, Maria Farantouri, Ray Charles, Maynard Ferguson, Maurice André, José Carreras, Gösta Winberg, Ivo Porgorelich, Elena Bashkirova, Montserrat Caballé, Lucia Aliberti, Jochen Kowalski, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Mendl, Mario Adorf, Mareike and Mathieu Carrière, Gert Hof, Edson Cordeiro, Level 42 Keyboarder Mike Lindup, Orange Blue Guitarplayer Roland Cabezas, Sting Guitarplayer Dominic Miller etc.
Born in Gmunden with his musical talent, Stephan Höllwerth completed his first music study with Diploma in Orchestral Conducting at University of Music Vienna. Afterwards, he furthered his music education for his Doctor Degree (PhD) in Musicology at University Mozarteum Salzburg. With his distinctive study, he received the Richard Wagner Foundation Bayreuth in 1994 and the Scholarship for special achievements by the University Mozarteum Salzburg in 2004.
Since his graduation from the University of Music Vienna, Stephan started his diverse commitment with contribution in the music education and performance arena. Besides his music education in solfeggio, conducting and musical theory in institutes and organization like Adult Education Programme Laufen, Salzburg College, Musikum Salzburg etc. and master class coaching in the International Summer Academy Mozarteum of University Mozarteum Salzburg, he has been actively serving the choir and orchestral conducting in choirs and orchestras like Vienna Youth Choir, Chorus Andrae Salzburg, choir “Musikfreunde Laufen”, ensemble “Coro per sono” and “vision vocal”, Pro Arte Orchestra Vienna, RSO Vienna, Westsaxonian Philharmonic orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra Bad Reichenhall, Amadeus Ensemble Salzburg, Chamber orchestra of Hallein, Negaunee High School Orchestra (Michigan), Young Philharmonic Orchestra of Austria, the opera “The Magic Mirror” by Ludwig Nussbichler in 2007, Austrian American Mozart Academy 2007, Chamber Orchestra of Musikum Salzburg since 2009 and Diabelli Youth Orchestra since 2012.
Kapellmeister der Wiener Sängerknaben / Orchestra Director of Taranto Opera Festival
Jimmy Chiang was appointed as Kapellmeister of the Vienna Boys’ Choir in 2013, becoming the first Hong Kong born Chinese conductor to ever hold this title in the world famous choir’s 500 years of history. He was also the first prize winner of the renowned „Lovro von Matacic“ international conducting competition in Zagreb in 2007.
Chiang began his musical career in his home town with his first public appearance as a concert pianist at the age of 13 with the Hong Kong Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, in which he was also a cellist from 1994 to 1996 and has been its principal conductor since 2008. Chiang’s performing career whether as soloist, collaborative pianist or conductor has brought him to prestigious stages and festivals all around the world, such as the Wiener Musikverein, Carnegie Hall, Komischen Oper Berlin, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, FACYL in Spain and the Macau International Music Festival, among others. Orchestras he has worked with include the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfonica Castilla e Leon, Hong Kong Philharmonic, etc. He is well known for being a well-rounded musician who masters an enormous, versatile repertoire, ranging from Gregorian to living contemporaries. The international opera magazine “Orpheus” described Chiang well in a cover article in 2009 under the title “Versatility comes through Hard Work, Discipline and Respect!”
Chiang worked as assistant music director of the Wagner “Ring” cycle at Theater Lübeck, as well as opera productions at the Eutin Festival during the summer seasons from 2007 to 2009. From 2009 to 2011 he was first Kapellmeister at Theater Freiburg, where he directed numerous premiere productions such as a howling success of Ligeti’s opera Le Grand Macabre with celebrated stage director Calixto Bieito. In 2016, he became the first artistic director of a newly-founded Hong Kong – Vienna Music Festival and led the festival to its climax by bringing together top musicians from both metropoles in a stunning performance of Gustav Mahler’s 8th Symphony.
Born into a musical family, Chiang began piano lessons when he was four. He also studied violoncello and composition as a teenager. He received the Fellows Diploma of the Trinity College of Music London at the age of 16. He graduated with the Bachelor of Music Degree at Baylor University (USA), where he studied with the renowned pianist Krassimira Jordan of the Russian piano school and the legendary Polish-born Jewish conductor Daniel Sternberg. He continued his education and obtained the “Magister Artium” Degree with distinction at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he was a student of the Austrian conductor Leopold Hager and German pianist Wolfgang Watzinger. In 2003 he studied with Seiji Ozawa and appeared at the Rohm Music Festival in Kyoto, Japan upon the maestro’s invitation. Other significant mentors included Dr. Yip Wai-hong in Hong Kong and Erwin Ortner, founder and director of the renowned Arnold Schönberg Chor of Vienna.
Born 1992 in Salzburg and raised in Freilassing, Bavaria, Silvio Trachsel has been making music on the piano since 1999 and began playing the oboe in 2003 at the music school in Tulln with Eva Stich. Soon after, he began studying oboe with Klaus Lienbacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and graduated with honors in 2018. Silvio completed his bachelor’s degree in instrumental pedagogy in 2020 with distinction.
From autumn 2015 to spring 2017 he was principal cor anglais with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He attended master classes and additional lessons with Paul Kaiser, Barbara Ritter, Andreas Gschmeidler, Stefanie Gansch, Theresia Melichar, Lajos Lencsés, Antal Ludmány, Wolfgang Zimmerl and Francois Leleux. He received pedagogical influences from Prisca Schlemmer and as a guest teacher in Hungarian oboe camps with Judit Kerényi. He has also played in many orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Tonkünstlerorchester Niederösterreich, the Vienna Symphony, the Vienna Volksoper, the Graz Philharmonic, the St. Stephen’s Cathedral Orchestra, the Vienna Court Orchestra and others.
Markus Holzer graduated in classical saxophone at the university for music and performing arts Vienna. Further studies brought him to Amsterdam, where he graduated in the class of Arno Bornkamp, an international renowned soloist and chamber musician.
He attended workshops with Eugene Rousseau, Jean-Marie Londeix, Henk van Twillert and Claude Delangle. He has won several prices at saxophone-competitions like the Gradus ad Parnassum (Graz, Austria), the Prize of the Club Carinthia (Klagenfurt, Austria), the Gustav Bumcke competition (Nuernberg, Germany) and is prize-winner at the Pacem in terris competition (Bayreuth, Germany).
Markus Holzer gave solo concerts and recitals at the „Wiener Musikverein“ and the „Konzerthaus Vienna“. He has toured with several groups in chamber music across Austria, Germany, Greece, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Indonesia, Oman and China.
His major ensemble is the „4saxess saxophone quartet“, which will celebrate in 2021 there 20th anniversary.
Since 2010 he is member of the „Vienna Saxophonic Orchestra“, an orchestra consisting of twelve professional saxophonists. In 2013 they have recorded an international acclaimed Cd with works by Edvard Grieg, Paul Dukas and contemporary composers like Christian Maurer.
Beside his pedagogical activities as principal of the „Musikschule Region Wagram“ in Austria, he plays concerts with pianist Stephanie Timoschek (University of Music Vienna).
In the last two years, Markus he has teached and played at the „SOS Saxophone Festival“ in Slovenija. He was invited to „Wroclav Saxophone Festival“ in Poland and to „Saxophobia“ saxophone festival in Bratislava, Slovakia. As a regularly member of the board of saxophone competitions in Austria, Italy, Hungary and Poland, he has a wide knowledge among the international saxophone scene.
Markus Holzer has recorded several CDs:
• 4saxess: „Bach – Vivaldi – Bernstein“
• Vienna Saxophonic Orchestra:
„Frameless Pictures“
• Markus Holzer & Stefan Schön:
Stücke für die Erste Übertrittsprüfung (Pedagogical CD)
Eliza Schmidt was born in Hungary and has been playing the violin since she was 6 years old. At the age of 9 she was already successfully on stage. At 15 she played the violin concerto „Adélaïde“ in D major with the famous Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra in Budapest.
In Hungary she studied with famous personalities such as Jànos Pallagi. Eliza Schmidt graduated from music college with distinction and made her debut with the complete Samuel Barber violin concerto. She put her musical focus on chamber music and took master classes from Vera Vaidman, Lorand Fenyves, Edward Zienkowski, Lynn Blakeslee and Zakhar Bron. She played great violin concertos by Dvořák and Brahms as well as Paganini‘s „Caprices“ in various appearances.
Then Eliza continued her studies in the concert field at the Conservatory Vienna. Her teachers were:
* Florian Zwiauer – concertmaster of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and founder of the Franz Schubert Quartet.
* Martin Tuksa – concertmaster of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and
* Werner Hink – concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
After her first own CD production of the „Four Seasons“ by Vivaldi (published by Extraplatte Wien) she did several CD and TV recordings with the ORF Dancing Star Orchestra, performed live with the Ensemble Rondo Vienna and she gave chamber music concerts at various festivals and New Year’s concerts in Vienna and all over Europe and Asia.
Through her numerous appearances with a wide variety of ensembles, Eliza Schmidt acquired a big repertoire, ranging from Viennese classical and salon music to jazz and pop. She is invited as solo violinist and concertmaster in various productions around the world.
Majd àtküldöm nagyfelbontasban is ha kell.
Beatrix Darmstaedter graduated from Saxophone Classic (Conservatory, Vienna), Musicology, Philosophy (University of Vienna), and “Education and Cultural Communication Management” (Academy of Applied Arts, Vienna) with honors. In 1998, she completed her doctorate in Musicology at the University of Vienna.
Subsequently, she taught saxophone, music history and organology at various universities and conservatories in Europe. In 2021, she was bestowed venia doceni for the subject “historical musicology” (University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz). Since 2001, she works as the curator of the collection of historic musical instruments of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. Her main organological research topic is the application of 3D-CT (non-contact) measurement of historical woodwind instruments. In addition, she focuses on biographical research on instrument makers of the Viennese Court, and on performing practice in relation to the development and construction of instruments.
She is co-editor of several anthologies, has published 5 monographs and more than 100 scientific articles. As saxophonist, she participated in countless concerts as soloist as well as orchestral musician, was involved in many contemporary music projects and several CD productions. Since 2012, she teaches saxophone at the then opened Richard-Wagner-Conservatory in Vienna.
Born in Trento (Italy), Class 1988 appreciated international bassoon player, Soloist, Orchestra Section Leader and Bassoon Professor. Over the last decade he had the honour to play under the baton of some of the most famous conductors like Z. Mehta, V. Gergiev, A. Pappano, G. Noseda ecc.. Often invited to perform at international Festivals and to give Masterclasses and Seminars in Italy and Abroad. Very active also in chamber music . He plays an original Heckel Bassoon instrument from the 13th serie.
The soprano Aud Kjellaug Tesaker, born in southern Norway, received her degrees in Voice and Vocal Pedagogy at the Conservatory of Kristiansand. She continued her musical education with Master Studies at the University of Mozarteum, Salzburg, where in addition to studying „Art Song and Oratorio” she received her Diploma in „Opera and Musical Theatre”.
During this period she was engaged for the role of Sandrina in the Josef Haydn opera „L’Infedelta delusa”as an ORF Television production. Also she now began her long association with the Vienna Barock Summer Festival „Spectaculum” where she regularly sang in opera and concert performances, one of the major productions being the historic event „ll Pomo d’Oro” by Kaiser Leopold I./Cesti – in the Vienna Hofburg in 1989.
Upon completion of her education in Salzburg she was immediately engaged by the Bavarian Opera Theatre in Passau singing a varied repertoire of main lyric operatic and operetta roles.
Simultaneously as an oratorio singer she was much in demand as evidenced by her large oratorio repertoire. Guest engagements brought her to England, Scandinavia, the USA, Italy, Israel, Germany and Austria.
Her main stage roles cover a broad spectrum ranging over the Barock period through Mozart to the Italian Bel canto.
During her active stage career she extended and deepened her knowledge of vocal technique through her long, intensive study with the internationally famous Verdi baritone and Kammersänger Josef Metternich.
Her teaching talents and solid technical experience have made Kjellaug Tesaker a vocal pedagogue much in demand.
From 1989 to 1992 she was a voice teacher at the University of Passau.
In 1992 she became vocal instructor at the University of Mozarteum, Salzburg.
Since 2006 she has been Professor for Singing at the University of Mozarteum, Salzburg.
The technical and artistic success of her students has led to engagements on the larger European opera stages, such as the State opera houses of Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich and Theatro della Scala in Milan.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she started her musical studies with the principal Oboist of the Theatre Colon Orchestra. At age 21 she moved to Europe, studying in France, Switzerland and Austria, graduating at “Conservatoire Regional de Lyon’ in “Diplome d’etudes Musicales’’ , Bachelor Diplom and Master Diplom at “Hochschule der Kunst Bern”. In the present she is finishing her second Master studies in Baroque and Classical Oboe at the “Mozarteum University Salzburg”.
She participated at several oboe competitions, such as the ‘International Lodz Oboe Competition’, ‘Concorso Internazionale citta’ di Pordenone’ and the ‘International chamber music competition Carl Nielsen’, arriving to the finals with Woodwind Tarqa Quintet.
She teaches oboe, since 2018, in the ‘International Vienna School’, participated as a guest teacher with the semi-professional orchestra of the “University of Vienna’’ and the “Indian youth Orchestra” in Mumbai. She also taught in the Music School of Ober-Grafendorf, Lower Austria.
As a soloist she performed in the Festival Burg Golling in Salzburg and in Borromäus Saal in Wien with the Ton-Pendium Orchestra. She plays regularly in the Vereinigte Bühnen Orchestra of Wien, Beethoven Philharmonie, Bühne Baden Orchestra, Mozart Orchestra, Schloss Schönbrunn Orchestra, Stephansdom Orchestra, Synchron Stage Orchestra, Mozarteum University Baroque Orchestra, MDW Alte Musik Orchestra, among others…
Christof Zellhofer studied Trumpet in Vienna and Malmö. He is currently freelancing in Vienna, playing with all of the great Viennese Symphony- and Opera Orchestras, including Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchester der Wiener Volksoper, Tonkünstlerorchester Niederösterreich and the ORF – Radiosymphonieorchester.
He played under the baton of international conductors like Riccardo Muti, Franz Welser-Möst, Zubin Metha, Georges Pretre, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Neville Marriner, and many others. Additionally, you can hear him as soloist and chamber music partner in Classical Music as well as in the field of Jazz, Pop and improvised music.
Vinicius Kattah is the new General music director, chief conductor, at the State Theatre Kosice, Slovakia. The young maestro was born in Brazil and at an early age won Prizes at big international competitions for opera conductors.
Kattah is currently living between Kosice, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria where during the last 10 years he has worked with several orchestras conducting at the Vienna State Opera, Musikverein, Konzerthaus, Hofburg, Schloss Schönbrunn and others. His work as a conductor took him to all parts of the world, including: Europe, the U.S.A., Brazil, the Middle-East, Australia, China and Japan.
Recent and future engagements from the maestro includes a world-premiere for the 18-19 season at the Teatro Real in Madrid, concert with the world famous soprano Andrea Rost with the Szolnok Symphony Orchestra, concerts in China and Japan, a premiere of Verdi’s Otello and La Traviata, Beethoven’s Fidelio and Massenet’s Werther at the State Opera Kosice, a concert with the State Philharmonic Kosice and as guest conductor of opera houses like the Slovak National Opera, Plovdiv Opera and the Barenboim-Said Orchestras in Palestine.
Kattah recently conducted the world Premiere of the opera “Cinderella” composed by the young composer Alma Deutscher (12 years-old) that can be seen on BBC’s documentary “Finding Cinderella”. The conductor was also responsible for the modern-day première of the recently discovered Mozart, Salieri and Cornetti’s Freundenlied “Per la recuperate salute di Ofelia” on his project Tutti Mozart.
Kattah began conducting at a young age when he had the opportunity to receive a scholarship to learn from the famous conductor Helmut Rilling in Germany and in the U.S.A.. and after completing his studies Kattah’s career brought him to the opera. He was Korrepetitor and assistant conductor in the Cologne Opera House.
Univ.-Prof. Christoph Moser is principal clarinetist of the Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna since 2013 and professor for clarinet at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna since 2020, where he started as clarinet lecturer 3 years earlier.
Born 1982 in Vöcklabruck, he received his first clarinet lessons at the age of eight, studied at the Bruckner Conservatory Linz and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with Prof. Johann Hindler. Jazz studies at the same place enhanced his clarinet skills.
After numerous prizes and awards as a student, he began his professional career 2009 at the Staatstheater Wiesbaden, later joined the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the Staatstheater Cottbus in 2011. As principal clarinetist and specialist for E-flat and D clarinet he performs regularly with orchestras across the globe, such as Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera, NDR Symphony Orchestra Hamburg, Staatskapelle Dresden, RSO Vienna, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg etc.
Christoph Moser is very active as a soloist and chamber musician, touring with Mozart, Weber and Molter clarinet concertos and his own chamber ensemble „Soundartists“. He’s jury member in international competitions and auditions and is regularly holding master classes. With the Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna under chief conductor Yutaka Sado he is a well known guest in Japan.
Zoltan Vass was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1984. He graduated from the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest and completed his Bachelor’s degree in 2008 under Prof. Günter Högner and Priv.Doz. Mag. Hermann Ebner at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
He continued pursuing his studies in Germany for two semesters at the University of Music and Theatre »Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy« Leipzig with Prof. Thomas Hauschild.
Zoltan then returned to Austria where he obtained his master’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz and completed a degree in pedagogy.
Zoltan has worked with numerous orchestras within Austria and most part of Europe.
As a chamber musician, he is active in various ensembles. In 2012 he won first prize with the Vienna Wind Ensemble at the 6th International Chamber Music Competition “Cameristi dell’Alpe Adria” in Italy.
Since 2014 he has been teaching french horn at the Mistelbach Municipal Music School.
As a sought-after chamber musician, lecturer and orchestral musician, he is active worldwide.
The pianist Yasuhito Watanabe was born in Japan and majored in piano at the Nihon University College of Art in Tokyo. Baccalaureate and Master Diploma with distinction. He was awarded the University Rector’s Prize. During his studies he received the scholarship from Mr. James and Mrs. Michiko Dun and also the scholarship award for studying abroad. With that he came to Austria, then to Germany. In these countries he studied piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, the University of Music and Theater in Munich and the Mozarteum University in Salzburg.
He won various prizes and awards. Among others at the All Japan Classical Music Competition (Special Final Prize), at the JPTA (Japan Piano Teachers Association) All Japan Piano Audition (Best Finalist) and numerous auditions at various cultural foundations and organizations in Japan. He was awarded the second prize at the international piano competition “Citta di Morcone” in Italy. He has performed in solo and chamber music concerts in Austria, Germany, Italy, Croatia, France, Sweden, Turkey, Taiwan and Japan. In his native Japan he has given concerts in the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Suntory Hall, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, Toppan Hall, Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall and Art Tower Mito. In Austria he played e.g. in the Musikverein Wien, Wiener Konzerthaus, Theater an der Wien, Bühne Baden and Oper Graz.
He discovered the variety and great possibilities of the piano. At the moment he works in all directions as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral pianist and piano accompaniment (vocals, instruments and ballet). He was also seen and heard in various TV and radio programs: in the NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai), Radio Nippon Broadcasting System in Japan and in Europe in the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation), BR (Bavarian Broadcasting) and BBC (The British Broadcasting Corporation). Piano accompaniment in various master classes as well as in the ballet competition. He has also written many different articles in Japanese newspapers and magazines.
Current main activity here in Vienna as a pianist at the Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera.
Vinicius Kattah is the new General music director, chief conductor, at the State Theatre Kosice, Slovakia. The young maestro was born in Brazil and at an early age won Prizes at big international competitions for opera conductors.
Kattah is currently living between Kosice, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria where during the last 10 years he has worked with several orchestras conducting at the Vienna State Opera, Musikverein, Konzerthaus, Hofburg, Schloss Schönbrunn and others. His work as a conductor took him to all parts of the world, including: Europe, the U.S.A., Brazil, the Middle-East, Australia, China and Japan.
Recent and future engagements from the maestro includes a world-premiere for the 18-19 season at the Teatro Real in Madrid, concert with the world famous soprano Andrea Rost with the Szolnok Symphony Orchestra, concerts in China and Japan, a premiere of Verdi’s Otello and La Traviata, Beethoven’s Fidelio and Massenet’s Werther at the State Opera Kosice, a concert with the State Philharmonic Kosice and as guest conductor of opera houses like the Slovak National Opera, Plovdiv Opera and the Barenboim-Said Orchestras in Palestine.
Kattah recently conducted the world Premiere of the opera “Cinderella” composed by the young composer Alma Deutscher (12 years-old) that can be seen on BBC’s documentary “Finding Cinderella”. The conductor was also responsible for the modern-day première of the recently discovered Mozart, Salieri and Cornetti’s Freundenlied “Per la recuperate salute di Ofelia” on his project Tutti Mozart.
Kattah began conducting at a young age when he had the opportunity to receive a scholarship to learn from the famous conductor Helmut Rilling in Germany and in the U.S.A.. and after completing his studies Kattah’s career brought him to the opera. He was Korrepetitor and assistant conductor in the Cologne Opera House.
The cellist, Stefanie Huber was born on September 2nd, 1987 in Klagenfurt, Austria and she received her first cello lessons at the age of 8 at the music school of Vienna.
In 2006 she began her studies at the Joseph-Haydn-Conservatory in Eisenstadt with Othmar Müller. 2010 the cellist did her first diplome (Bachelor) with Othmar Müller in Eisenstadt and Prof. Jozef Podhoransky in Bratislava (Slovakia).
Master classes with Reinhard Latzko, Stefan- Jess- Kropfitsch, Wolfgang Boettcher, Diethard Auner, Josef Luitz, Georg Baich and Othmar Müller.
In 2012/2013 member of the Gustav- Mahler- Jugendorchester. Among other things she was participating at chamber music Festival in Prades 2009 and at the Gustav Mahler academy 2013 in Bozen and at the ISA Festival in Austria.
In October 2013, the cellist graduated with destinction in the cello class of Othmar Müller (Artis Quartett).
Stefanie Huber played in halls like Musikverein Wien, Konzerthaus Wien, Festspielhaus Salzburg, Royal Albert Hall, Concertgebouw und Dresdner Semperoper.
In November 2013, she had her debut with the Brahms double concerto with the chamber orchestra „Modus 21“ in Graz / Austria. In 2015 prize winner of different chamber music competitions with her piano trio Trikolon in Slovenia, Malta, Swiss and Spain. In 2018 the cellist graduated in the chamber music class of Johannes Meissl at the music university of Vienna.
Since 2021 she has been a member of the Varga Quartett Wien stringquartet. Stefanie Huber plays a Guadagnini model of the violin maker Henriette Lersch.
Sebastian Jolles lives in Vienna as Orchestra musician, teacher and an explorer out of the box.
He studied Cello with Xenia Jancovic and Baroque Cello with Jaap ter Linden. He took Masterclasses with Arto Noras, Christoph Richter, the Voces-Quartet and many others. After working in several different Orchesteras like Staatstheater Kassel, Münchner Symphoniker and others he spent four years as Pricipal Cellist of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Now Sebastian works as a freelance in Orchestras like Tiroler Festspiele Erl. He played Wagners Ring in 24 hours and many ohter crazy projeks, especially also in contemporary music. Teaching kids and adults has become one of Sebastians most important occupations. He is working for the strings program at American International School Vienna.
Baritone
Mathematician in love with music, Sébastien Soules studied at the CNSM in Paris and in the HdK Berlin. He perfected his skills with José van dam, Walter Berry, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Brigitte Fassbaender.
He has been in the ensembles of the opera houses of Innsbruck and the Vienna Volksoper. He has been invited as guest in Berlin, London, Tokyo, Munich, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Warsaw, Madrid, Athens, festival of Bregenz…
He appears as Scarpia in the James Bond movie quantum of solace.
His repertoire covers the great repertoire dedicated to his voice: Figaro, Don Giovanni, Escamillo, Golaud, Wozzeck, Scarpia, Jochanaan, the Dutch, more than 50 roles from Mozart to the most contemporary music.
Passionate teacher, he was a professor at the Regional Music school of Tirol in Innsbruck, where he also directed the Opera class.
Sebastian Jolles lives in Vienna as Orchestra musician, teacher and an explorer out of the box.
He studied Cello with Xenia Jancovic and Baroque Cello with Jaap ter Linden. He took Masterclasses with Arto Noras, Christoph Richter, the Voces-Quartet and many others. After working in several different Orchesteras like Staatstheater Kassel, Münchner Symphoniker and others he spent four years as Pricipal Cellist of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Now Sebastian works as a freelance in Orchestras like Tiroler Festspiele Erl. He played Wagners Ring in 24 hours and many other crazy projects, especially also in contemporary music.
Teaching kids and adults has become one of Sebastians most important occupations. He is working for the strings program at American International School Vienna.
Sandor Rigo (born in Budapest, 1965) graduated from the Ferenc Liszt Academy in Györ as a clarinetist (concert subject and pedagogy) in 1989. He then studied classical saxophone with Oto Vrhovnik at the University of Music in Vienna (graduated in 2001 with the title Mag. Art with distinction) and IGP (instrumental and music education, graduated in 2009 with the title Bachelor of Arts).
He took part in master classes by Jean-Marie Londeix, Arno Bornkamp, Markus Weiss, Eugene Rousseau and Jean-Yves Furmeau. He studied jazz at the University of Music in Vienna with Martin Fuss and in workshops with Eric Marienthal and Bob Mintzer.
Since 1988 he has been teaching and has also published numerous arrangements for the saxophone (Schott Musik Verlag, Germany-Switzerland and Edition Music-Soft Budapest) and takes part in international competitions and master classes as a juror, lecturer and performing artist. He currently teaches classical saxophone at the “International Academy of Music and Performing Arts Vienna” (AMP)
His concert activities as a soloist and chamber musician have taken him abroad, including New York, Toronto, Paris, Rome, Milan, as well as places in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia etc.
He has also worked on numerous radio and television recordings as well with CD productions.
He performed as a soloist with the Philharmonisches Orchester Györ (Hungary) and works regularly with Christina Leeb-Grill (classical project) and with his own formation, “Sandor Rigo Quartet” (original compositions / jazz).
His discography includes classical, contemporary, jazz and world music. Sandor Rigo is “Yanagisawa Artist”
Studied at the Academy (now University) of music in Vienna and was granted a scholarship by the Herbert von Karajan Foundation of Berlin/ Orchestra academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1989/90).
He was appointed principal clarinettist of the Municipal Theatre of Klagenfurt and of the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra in 1985. At the same time he worked as principal clarinettist of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. Later he was principal clarinettist of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra (1993-94).
He has worked on tour with both the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic orchestras under the baton of conductors like Karajan, Bernstein, Abbado, Muti, Barenboim, Levine, Previn, Pretre, Stein, Leinsdorf, Jansons, Rattle a.o.
As a soloist he appeared with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra, Modern Times 1800, Cappella Istropolitana, Camerata Carinthia, the Orchestra del Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano and the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.
For many years now he has been exploring the concept of „the body as an instrument”.
He got trained as practitioner of the “Grinberg Method – Stage 1” and Spiral dynamics (Basic, Intermediate Yoga).
2008/2009 wind coach, Baltic Youth Philharmonic/ Kristjan Järvi, as a teacher numerous masterclasses in Europe.
Since 2012 many appearances with the Soloists of Concentus and Concentus Musicus Wien and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, at Theater an der Wien, Styriarte Graz, Wiener Musikverein und Salzburg Festival on period instruments.
Member of vienna clarinet connection since 1997.
Professor for clarinet at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
Richard Gašpar, double bass, studied at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava where he received a Master of Arts. He was 5. years a member of the Slovak National Opera until 1998, after which he joined the Slovak Philharmonic and same time ” Solistes Européens, Luxembourg” till today.
His performances have taken him Europe, Korea, China, Africa, USA and Japan.
PLAMENA MITKOVA IVANOVA (viola) was born in Bulgaria. She started playing the violin when she was 6 years old. Since 2005 she has been studying violin at the Vienna Conservatory, since 2006 instrumental pedagogy at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, since 2009 violin and since 2013 viola at Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz.
As an orchestral and chamber musician she has performed in several places of the world, for example in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Peru, China, Japan and Korea.
The Hungarian flutist studied at the Music Academy in Budapest, later at the Music University in Graz (Austria), and at the “Hochschule für Musik” in Munich (Germany) where he received the “Master Class Diploma”. His flute professors were Andras Adorjan, Philippe Boucly, Nils-Thilo Krämer and Antal Szabo, besides that he attended master courses held by Peter-Lukas Graf, Wolfgang Schulz, Maxence Larrieu, Massimo Mercelli, Mario Ancillotti.
Between 2005 and 2018, Peter Olah was principal flute player of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. In 2013 he won a first prize at the Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition in New York, in 2015 he was awarded the prestigious Laszlo Lajtha prize in Budapest, Hungary for his outstanding performances of Lajtha’s works. He performs regularly solo and chamber music concerts and plays as soloist with various orchestras, appeared as soloist in Japan (Kyoto, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Nikko a.o.), China (Beijing, Lanzhou), USA (New York City, Carnegie Hall), Germany (Munich, Berlin, Bayreuth a.o.), France, Italy, Finland, Hungary, Egypt.
Several composers from Hungary, Germany, Austria, Egypt and Japan dedicated him new flute compositions. In June of 2016 Peter Olah premiered Egyptian composer Mohamed-Aly Farag’s “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” which was dedicated to Peter Olah. He was recorded many times by the Hungarian and the Bavarian Radio, and the Hungarian recording company “Hungaroton”.
Mag. Norbert Haas first started to study the trumpet from 1998-2006 in the musicschool of Staatz bei Mag. Gernot Kahofer and also had private lessons with MMag. Bernhard Pronebner. He won the competition “Prima la musica” in the solo and ensemble category. Since 2007 he studied at the music university of with Prof. Josef Pomberger and from 2012 on with Prof. Johann Plank.
Since 2010 he also took the pedagogic classes with main focus on choir and ensemble. October 2014 he made his 3. diploma with honours and in March 2016 his first diploma of the pedagogic studies. He is now teaching in several music schools in Austria.
His work as a musician includes being part of the following orchestras:
Orchester der Wiener Volksoper
Radio Symphonieorchester Wien
Mitwirkung bei den Salzburger Festspielen Bühnenorchester der Staats- und Volksoper Wien Wiener Ambassadeorchester
Wiener Kammerorchester
Wiener Mozartorchester
Wiener Imperialorchester
Franz Léhar Orchester
Salonorchester „Alt Wien“
Sinfonietta Baden
Ungarische-Österreichische Haydnphilharmonie
Michael Lugitsch was born in 1987 in Oberwart. He received his first piano and French horn lessons with Johannes Löschberger at the music school Hartberg. Since 2003 he studied Bachelor´s Degree in French Horn and Instrumental and vocal pedagogy with Prof. Günter Högner and Priv. Doz. Mag. Hermann Ebner at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. After having finished the secondary school at the „Musikgymnasium Oberschützen“ in 2007, Master`s degrees followed in the Instrumental study French Horn (2012) and Instrumental and vocal pedagogy (2013) as well as the PhD in the department of the IGP (2018).
In order to broaden his artistic training he attended master classes with Wolfgang Wilhelmi, Ab Koster, Johannes Hinzerholzer, Palma Szilagy and Wilhelm Schwaiger. He has gained artistic experience by playing in different institutions, such as in Tonkünstlerorchester Niederösterreich (substitution position), Wiener Akademie, at Stadttheater Baden and through concerts with the Wiener Jeunesse Orchester, Wiener Hofburgorchester and the Concilium Musicum Wien. As a chamber musician he is a member of the woodwind quintet „Quintett Sonett“, the horn quartet „Styrian Horns“ and the brass quintet „Magic Brass Vienna“.
Michael Lugitsch works since 2010 as a horn teacher at the music school Triestingtal and the Franz Schubert-Regionalmusikschule Unteres Pitten- und Schwarzatal. Since 2021 he has been a lecturer for the course “IGP-Berufskunde” at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
“His playing moved the audience deeply, after each concert, there were peoples in tears and the ovations were unusually long. Matei Ioachimescu is one of the greatest flutists I have ever heard.” Kalevi Aho, Composer 26.5.2018.
Matei Ioachimescu, renowned Romanian flutist, has a very intense artistic activity as a soloist or as a member of several chamber music ensembles, being praised for his interpretation of baroque, contemporary music but also for his cross-over recitals.
A graduate of the university for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, his home city by choosing, he won several competitions and grants (Thyl-Dürr or Yehudi Menuhin Foundation) and his collaborations with some of the most interesting musicians from Europe were unanimously appreciated by the audience in concert halls like Konzerthaus Wien, Ateneul Roman, Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, Budapest Music Center or Suntory Hall.
His debut CD “Lumiére” released in 2014 together with pianist Catalina Butcaru, is seen as an album of reference for the two instruments and was highly praised by the critics in Austria and Romania.
Also a soloist, he presents classical concertos and premieres concertos of contemporary composers, accompanied by orchestras like Romanian Radio Orchestra, “George Enescu” Philharmonic, “Transilvania” State Orchestra of Cluj-Napoca, etc.
Lately he performed throughout Europe in projects like Legends, Playlists, Paris or La Vida Loca- the internationally acclaimed program, combining classical and contemporary music with world music, jazz and rock. La Vida Loca is also the title of the newest album, with brand new arrangements of Latin American music, released in 2019 on ViennArt. Matei Iochimescu is a founding member of the Green Thing Ensemble, a group dedicated to promote contemporary music.
His intense musical activity and the great quality of his projects brought him the title of
Matei Ioachimescu is invited as a member of the jury in several international competitions and has an important pedagogic activity reflected by numerous master classes and workshops held in Romania, Croatia and Austria.
In 2020, Matei Ioachimescu was appointed Associate Professor of flute at the West University of Timisoara.
“Gifted with enormous talent and charismatic personality, Matei Ioachimescu is that artist who wins our hearts with his electrifying energy and his subtle refinement, due to his extraordinary sensitivity.” Doina Rotaru, Composer.
Acclaimed as an “intense, concentrated artist” (Opera News) with a voice of “dark beauty and lustrous tone” (Birmingham Post), Magdalena Anna Hofmann has been celebrated at many of the world’s most important opera houses, festivals and concert halls. Her repertoire spans some of the great heroines of the German and Slavic repertoire as well as Mozart roles, operetta and modern music.
In 2021, the soprano makes her role debut as Brünnhilde in Die Walküre in a new staging at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt and reprises her portrayal of Isolde in Jochen Biganzoli’s staging of Tristan und Isolde at the Halle Opera. In the same role of Isolde she made her house debut at the Staatsoper Hannover in the 2020/2021 season.
Performances of the 2019/20 season have included her double debut as Leonore in Fidelio at the Teatro Comunale of Bologna, a role she also performed in a new production in Heidelberg; Sieglinde in Die Walküre and Gutrune in Götterdämmerung in Minden as well as Sieglinde with the Cracow Philharmonics. A new staging of Lessons of love and violence for Theater St. Gallen and Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire at the Wigmore Hall were cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In the 2018/19 season, she made her acclaimed role debut as Isolde in a new production of Tristan und Isolde in Hagen (“A sensational discovery in the Wagner repertoire”, Westfalenpost), performed Sieglinde in Die Walküre in Tianjin, Gutrune in Götterdämmerung in Minden and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with the Warsaw Philharmonics.
Performances of the 2017/18 season included Kundry in Mondparsifal Beta 9–23 at the Berliner Festspiele, the title role of Jenö Hubay’s Anna Karenina in a new production at the Bern Opera House, Schönberg’s Gurrelieder at the Casa da Música in Porto, Kurt Weill’s Silbersee-Gesänge with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Sieglinde in Die Walküre at the Tiroler Festspiele in Erl.
Recent highlights have led her to the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen as Frau in Schönberg’s Erwartung and as Senta in Der fliegende Holländer, to the Wiener Festwochen as Kundry in the world premiere of Mondparsifal alpha 1–8 (B. Lang / R. Wagner), to the Berliner Philharmonie, the Birmingham Symphony Hall and to Bern with Erwartung, to the Aalto-Theater of Essen and to Bonn as Senta, to Minden for her role debut as Sieglinde in Die Walküre, to the Aalto-Theater as The Foreign Princess in Rusalka, to the Cesis Concert Hall in Latvia for her first Elsa in Lohengrin and to the Casa da Música in Porto for Wagner’s Wesendonck-Lieder and Isoldes Liebestod.
Magdalena Anna Hofmann was born in Warsaw and completed her formal vocal training in Vienna. She began her career as a mezzo-soprano, appearing at opera houses and festivals such as the Teatro alla Scala, the Theater an der Wien and the Bregenz Festival.
In 2011 she sang her first soprano role, Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro at the Klosterneuburg Festival, followed by her first and highly acclaimed Kundry in a new production of Parsifal at the Rahvusooper, Tallinn. Performances since then have included several important debuts such as Erwartung and Dallapiccola’s Il prigioniero at the Opéra of Lyon, Portia in André Tchaikovsky’s The Merchant Of Venice at the Bregenz Festival and concerts in Osaka, Porto, Stuttgart as well as at the Bad Urach Festival. In October 2014 she scored an exceptional success in her role debut as Senta in Der fliegende Holländer in Lyon, where she returned the following year as Carlotta in a new production of Schreker’s Die Gezeichneten.
Magdalena Anna Hofmann has worked with conductors such as Daniel Harding, Kirill Petrenko, Daniele Gatti, Bertrand de Billy, Michael Boder, Kazushi Ono, Hartmut Keil, Lothar Königs, Riccardo Frizza, Gaetano d’Espinosa, Bernhard Kontarsky, Patrick Summers, Alejo Perez, Tomáš Netopil as well as Vladimir Fedoseyev and stage directors such as Keith Warner, Àlex Olle (La Fura dels Baus), Nicola Raab, Peter Stein, Frank Castorf, Stéphane Braunschweig, Valentina Carrasco, John Fulljames, William Friedkin, Gerd Heinz, Daniel Slater, Lotte de Beer, David Bösch and Walter Sutcliffe.
Laszlo Magyar was born in Hungary.
He studied at the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy in Pecs. And made his diploma in 1990 with distinction. 1990-1995 he took the post-graduate studies at the Vienna University of Music.
He played in many chamber music projects (classical, folk music, jazz). Since 1998 he is a member of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and of many other orchestras in Vienna. Numerous tours with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Strauss Festival Orchestra and the Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra have taken him all over the world to nearly every continent.
Imre Kristof Sziman was born in 1989 Budapest, Hungary, where he had his first cello lesson at the age of seven. After a successful entrance exam to the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music in 2004 , he also started to learn the Double Bass at István Lukácsházi, and graduated both instruments in 2008.
In the same year, he won the 3. National Double Bass Competiton Hungary, and moved to Vienna, Austria, to join the class of Prof. Josef Niederhammer at the University of Music and Performing Arts. During his studies he had several opportunitoes to join and play with such orchestras as Vieanna State Opera, Niederösterrichische Tonkünstler Orchester, Wiener Akademie, Bühnenorchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Volksoper and other ensembles, also on different tours in Austria, Germany, Japan, China, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, France.
Since he finished his studies at the University, he is working as a freelance musician, playing for recording studios, various music theaters and productions, and also started to teach in Vienna.
Born in Hungary, Kinga Vass received her first violin and piano lessons at the age of six.
1987 to 1991 she was a member of the symphony orchestra in Szombathely and a member of the chamber orchestra of the symphony orchestra in Szombathely.
1991 she made her diploma with distinction at the Music Academy in Pécs, from 1992 to 1995 she took studies at the Vienna Music Academy with Josef Sivo.
Since 1994 she has been the second concertmaster of the Baden Stage Orchestra, a Member of the First Chamber Orchestra of Austria
and since 2008 member of the Art Trio Baden.
Numerous appearances with various chamber orchestras and chamber music ensembles at home and abroad.
Born in Salzburg, Katharina Vass discovered the clarinet through the local brass band in Puch at primary school age. She was accepted into the programme of highly talented musical children and young persons at University Mozarteum Salzburg. Clarinet Professor Christine Gillhaus accompanied Katharina Vass through many years of formative study. Gillhaus was also a constant mentor of the young clarinetist on her way from Salzburg to Berlin, Weimer, Graz and Vienna.
In Weimer, the city of Goethe, Schiller and Liszt, she inhaled the omnipresent culture and became completely absorbed in her musical studies. In the meantime, she also swapped her clarinet from a brush and eraser, working at the workbenches of the Main State Archive in Weimer. It was here that Katharina Vass immersed herself for the first time in the theoretical world behind the notes and sounds. Her efforts to combine scientific knowledge with musicianship at the highest professional level led to extraordinary concert programmes of special quality, such as the “Salonraritäten” with the Stella Artis Ensemble.
As a clarinetist, Katharina Vass can be equally met in orchestral pits, as well as on concert stages of contemporary music festivals or at chamber music concerts. She gained orchestral experience in Germany (Kammerorchester Potsdam, Landestheater Eisenach) and Austria (Wiener Symphoniker, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tonkunstler Orchestra of Lower Austria).
Katharina Vass found her great love in chamber music. The clarinetist made her first contact with this (demanding and musically fulfilling)genre at a very early age as a member of the Lux Ensemble (Astrid Steinschaden, Saskia and Leonhard Roczek). After that, she participated in numerous ensembles, developing a clear focus on contemporary music. With the founding of the Stella Artis Ensemble in 2011, Katharina Vass turned back to earlier chamber music. The Stella Artis Ensemble’s specialization in salon music of the 18th and early 19th century also led the inquisitive musician to the subject of her dissertation as well as a general intensive examination of music for mixed ensembles around 1800.
As the durability and accessibility of research are her particular concerns, the path to the digital humanities (resp. musicological research in the digital field) has been marked out. Collaboration in several online editions of the Austrian Academy of Sciences provided valuable insights into editorial work in general and contributed to the idea of publishing historical musical material, in modern, received and practical editions.
A busy international concert schedule in various orchestras, as a chamber music partner, as well as soloist, made Katharina Vass a sought-after lecturer at orchestra camps and master classes in Austria and Germany.
In 2018, Katharina Vass discovered her passion for historical clarinet instruments. Since then, she has been intensively engaged in both refining her skills on the historical clarinets and exploring the repertoire for these instruments.
Kamen Nikolov was born in Oriahovo, Bulgaria in 1978. He started oboe and piano lessons at the age of 11 and continued his oboe studies at the National Academy of Music in Sofia, at the Royal College of Music in London and at the University of Music and performing Arts Vienna, where he graduated with distinction in 2005. Since 2004 Kamen Nikolov has obtained further training from Christoph Hartmann (Berlin Philharmonics).
He received 2nd prize in the international “The World and the People” competition in Sofia. Between 2001 and September 2004 Kamen Nikolov was supported through scholarships by the Herbert v. Karajan Centre Vienna, the Dr. Robert and Lina Thyll-Dürr Foundation Switzerland and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
In 2003 he joined the “Gustav Mahler – Music and Youth” Foundation in Bolzano (Italy). In the season 2007/08 Kamen completed an apprenticeship with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra of SWR. In 2008 he was appointed as solo English horn to the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Moreover Kamen Nikolov substituted as oboe and English horn player at the Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne and the Chamber Orchestra of Vienna.
In 2011 Kamen Nikolov was appointed as principal oboe of the Philharmonic Orchestra Graz / Opera Graz (Austria). Between 2012 and 2015 he had a guest professorship at the University for Music in Graz.
Kamen Nikolov is performing in various chamber music ensembles all over Austria and abroad.
Johann Ratschan comes from Zell an der Pram (Upper Austria). He received his first violin lessons at the music school in Andorf / Raab at the age of five. When he was 14 years old, he changed instruments and switched to viola.
After graduating from high school (Matura) in 1999 he spent the compulsory military service as a member of the Austrian military band (Gardemusik) in Vienna. In October 2000 he started his studies with Prof. Jacqueline Roschek at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He passed the exam for his first diploma with honors in June 2004. Johann Ratschan continued his musical studies with Prof. Siegfried Führlinger, and graduated, again with honors and the title “Magister Artium”, in November 2007.
At the moment he is deputy director of the Steinfeld-Leitha Music School Association (Lower Austria) and also teaches violin, viola and chamber music there. In addition, he shares his knowledge and musical skills at Kammermusikwoche Feldkirchen, Jugendsymphonieorchester Burgenland (since 2013), Orchestercamps des OÖ Landesmusikschulwerks and Jeunesse Österreich.
Johann Ratschan studied chamber music with members of the Artis-Quartett, the Quatuor Mosaiques as well as with Martin Hornstein, Peter Matzka and Marialena Fernandez. He also intensified his artistic abilities in master courses with, among others, Lynn Blakeslee, Gunter Teufel, the Polyzoides family, Georg Hamann and the complete aron-quartett.
He has participated in chamber music performances with the Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), Wiener Symphoniker (Vienna Symphonic Orchestra), Radiosymphonieorchester Wien and Brucknerorchester Linz.
Johann Ratschan plays in several orchestras and ensembles: Substitute with RSO Wien, Orchester der Vereinigten Bühnen Wien, Bühnenmusik der Wiener Volksoper, also he plays with Brucknerorchester Linz since 2012. He has performed with renowned conductors such as Bertrand de Billy, Cornelius Meister, Michael Schønwandt, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Erwin Ortner, Sascha Götzel, Dennis Russell Davies, Markus Poschner und Valery Gergiev at prestigious houses, for example Wiener Musikverein, Konzerthaus Wien and Berlin, Philharmonie Köln, Gasteig München, Victoria Hall Genf, Cadogan Hall London, Dubai Opera, Avery Fisher Hall as well as Carnegie Hall New York, Opera City Hall Tokyo and at Salzburger Festspiele.
Hafez Babashahi is professor for piano Since 2015 at the Richard Wagner Conservatory in Vienna. After receiving the Bösendorfer-award in 2008, he performed with much acclaim in large European cities like Vienna, Salzburg, Berlin, Stuttgart, Budapest. In 2015, he gave his debut as soloist at the Vienna Musikverein performing works of Rachmaninow, Skrjabin and Schubert. The same year he founded Bamdad Trio, a regular guest in numerous international music centers.
He is the preferred accompanist of distinguished singers like Michael Schade, Hermine Haselböck, Stephanie Houtzeel and many young talented singers. He is a graduate of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna where he studied piano, music education and piano accompaniment with Wolfgang Watzinger, Peter Barcaba and Charles Spencer. He also attended master classes given by Noel Flores and Jörg Demus.
He is since 2015 a professor for piano at the Richard Wagner Conservatory in Vienna. He gives masterclasses in Austria, Germany, Hungary and China. Since 2016, he is artistic director of the “Wiener Lieder Herbst“, an international art song festival in Vienna.
Franz Tösch was born in 1967, Bruck an der Mur. He received his first trumpet lesson at the age of ten.
He was teached by Hans Meister, Stank Arnold and Hans Peter Schuh at the University of Music and Performing Art.
In addition to his studies, he was a member of Vienna Jeunesse Orchestra and of the Gustav Maler Youth Orchestra under the direction of Claudio Abbado. He also worked as a substitute at the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic. Besides that, he is a member of Ensemble 11.
Since 1995, he still works at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz / Institute Oberschützen and since 2007 at the music school in Neunkirchen.
Flutist Eric Lamb is in demand internationally as a concerto soloist, recitalist, concert curator and chamber musician. For many years, Eric was a core member of the International Contemporary Ensemble – ICE.
Eric is a member of Ensemble Reconsil – Wien, Synchronos Ensemble based in Zagreb Croatia, Quasars Ensemble based at the Slovak Radio in Bratislava and is co-artistic director of ensemble paladino. Highlights in 2021 include performances at Styriarte, with Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Modern at the Ruhrtriennale, the world premier of Julia Purgina’s Flute Concerto in Vienna’s Musikverein and the world premier of Viera Janareckova’s concerto for bass flute and strings at the Radio Concert Hall in Bratislava. Currently, Eric teaches a flute class at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Eric has performed with a long list of the worlds most important orchestras and ensembles including, ensemble XX., Geneva Camerata, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Omega Ensemble (Sydney), the Cleveland Orchestra, PHACE, Camerata Bern, the City of Birmingham Orchestra, ASKO Schoenberg Ensemble, Radio Orchestra Frankfurt and has been invited to perform at festivals in Melbourne, Darmstadt, Graz, Salzburg, Lockenhaus, Acht Brücken in Cologne, Mostly Mozart Festival, Heidelberg Spring Music Festival and the Bucharest Festival for New Music, to name but a few. His chamber music partners include some of Europe’s most celebrated vocalists, instrumentalists and artists. Among many other projects, Eric has worked in close collaboration with the Stockhausen Stiftung and the Theater Basel to re-create the role of Luzifer in Stockhausen’s opera ‘Donnerstag aus Licht’.
In the last decade, Eric has premiered more than 200 works and has worked closely with composers Michael Jarrell, John Adams, Kaija Saariaho, George Lewis, Ivan Buffa, Julia Purgina, Marc-Andres Dalbavie, HK Gruber, Matthias Pintscher, Reinbert de Leeuw, Michel van der Aa, Nico Muhly, Ben Foskett and conductors like Sakari Oramo, Franz Welser-Möst, Vladamir Ashkenazy, Ludovic Morlot, Pablo Heras-Casado, Steve Schick, Susanna Mälkki and Pierre Laurent-Aimard.
As a recording artist, his discography as a soloist and chamber musician is ever growing. He has recorded over 15 commercial available CD’s for various labels including Kairos, paladino, SONY, Hyperion, NMC, mode, New Amsterdam, NAXOS, Bridge, Starkland and Nonesuch. This repertoire expands one of the widest of his generation – from Bach, Mozart and Schubert to Xenakis, Jason Eckhardt and Passion Pit.
Eric Lamb’s research encompasses a broad sweep of musical styles. Along with his on-going commitment to expanding the 21st century flute repertoire, he is deeply involved with the study and exploration of 17th and 18th century performance practice. This work includes, so far, the discovery and editing of several concerti, etudes, solo pieces and sonatas. His recent research output includes editions of solo works of Johann Joachim Quantz, Johann George Tromlitz, Johann Martin Blochwitz, Michel Blavet and arrangements of JS Bach and Mozart for flute and cello, all published for paladino music. His critically acclaimed debut solo CD ‘Quantz: Solo Flute Music’ features the premier recording of Quantz’s 8 caprices. In early 2018, Eric released his debut concerto album of four unrecorded concertos by Quantz in collaboration with Kölner Akademie Orchester and Michael Alexander Willens for Profil Edition Hännsler.
Lamb continues to be a much sought-after pedagogue and is regularly invited to present workshops, master classes and lectures throughout South America, Europe and the US. He has been artist in residence at the Conservatoire Nationale de Musique et Danse La Rochelle, the Escola de Música do Estado de São Paulo – EMESP Tom Jobim and has given master classes at Hochschule for Musik Hannover, Birmingham Conservartoire, Eastern Michigan University, Smith College, the University of Virginia, the University of Auckland NZ, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Waikato, Bowling Green University, University of South Carolina, Academie für Musik Wiesbaden and Northwestern University.
Early on in his career, Eric Lamb was a recipient of the Millennium Young Artists’ Award from the James Tatum Foundation of the Arts, the National John Philip Sousa Award and the Dean’s Talent Scholarship from Oberlin College. He was a finalist at the International Music Competition “Pacem in Terris” (Bayreuth, Germany) and won first prize in the Polytechnische Gesellschaft Chamber Music Competition, first prize in the Lenzewski Music Competition followed later that year with first prize in the German Academic Exchange Performing Arts Competition (DAAD).
Eric began his musical studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he was a student of the great French flutist Michel Debost and studied chamber music with Kathleen Chastain. He then continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik Frankfurt am Main with Thaddeus Watson (Diploma and Concert Soloist Diploma) and later at the Sculoa di Musica di Fiesole, Italy (Diploma) with Chiara Tonelli . Eric studied baroque flute with Sally Tibbles and was heavily influenced by Irena Grafenauer (Salzburg), Robert Langevin (New York) and Viçens Prats (Paris).
Eric performs on both Sankyo Flute made of Grenadilla Wood and an Altus Limited Silver Flute. He also performs regularly on a 4-keyed traverso made after A. Grenser and a one-keyed flute made after Rottenburgh, both by Tutz of Innsbruck.
Delphine Krenn-Viard was born in 1977 in France. She studied School music and Musicology at Pariser Sorbonne, where she graduated with a Bachelors in 1998. In the same year she completed her DEM (Diplôme d´études musicales) with distinction, majoring in viola, at the conservatory in her hometown Besançon. Delphine then moved to Austria to attend the Conservatory of the City of Vienna, studying viola performance and IGP. She studied under Prof. Friedrich Bauer. She graduated from both programs in 2003. She continued her education and pursued a Masters of Viola Pedagogy, studying with Prof. Christian Euler, at the University of Performing Arts in Graz. She received her degree in 2007.
Delphine Krenn-Viard was a member of the Pacific Music Festival in Japan and also the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. She has played under the direction of Claudio Abbado, Mariss Jansons, Franz Welser-Möst, Charles Dutoit and Michael Tilson-Thomas. She has regularly given guest performances at the Graz Opera House and was a member of the Orchester Recreation in Graz for 20 years.
She has completed additional training and degrees in the Suzuki Method for Violin (2005), elementary music pedagogy (2007) and choir directing and group voice training (Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory in 2013.) She is currently dedicating her time to historical violin instruments with Dario Luisi at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory. Delphine Krenn-Viard teaches violin and viola at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory in Graz.
Cristian Daniel Nenescu was born in Bucarest. He studied at the University of Music in Vienna with Michael Frischenschlager and Evgenia Tchougaeva, postgraduate studies with Rainer Küchel, concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He attended masterclasses with Igor Oistrach and Vladimir Spivakov and won several prices at competitions for example “Gradus ad parnassum”-Graz, “Leopold Mozart” – Augsburg, “Stefanie Hohl” – Vienna.
He played in the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, the Radio symphony orchestra Vienna, the Orchestra of the “Wiener Volksoper” and many more, and is now first concertmaster of the “Bühne Baden” Orchestra.
Anna Jurecka started to play the bassoon when she was 12 years old. At 2012 she got successfully accepted to the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and at 2014 to the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. She graduated in both universities at 2019 a Bachelor-bassoon artist and teacher degree. In this year she was accepted to Master studies, where she is studying in Univ.Prof. Mag.art. David Seidel’s class.
While she teaches bassoon in several music schools in Austria, she had also the chance to work with wonderful orchestras, like CEIYO orchestra, Grazer Philharmoniker, Klangvereinigung Wien, Wiener Junge Philharmonie, Orchester Wiener Klang etc and with chamber music groups Trio d‘anches and the Bassoonquartett Bass&Bässer.
Exceptional. Cello. Sounds.
Ana is known as a cellist without frontiers. Her repertoire ranges from solo pieces and chamber music to New Music with electronic sounds. Inspired by the diversity of her instrument she developed as a composer of original works, exploring undiscovered musical interfaces, alternative ways of thinking and new art forms. Highly awarded for her solo performances, Ana premiered her works in Carnegie Hall, Gasteig in Munich, Wiener Konzerthaus and Musikverein.
Ana developed an original performing technique called MULTICELLO – When one cello sounds as a whole orchestra. Using extended techniques on cello and latest audio equipment, Ana layers her live performance to an immersive sound world. Her groundbreaking explorations on cello are at once modern and timeless. Guided by her synthetic visions she creates landscapes of sounds which are ethereally gorgeous, sometimes weird and serene, but always honest and direct. With this latest project, by creating a suite of multi-dimensional, otherworldly pieces, Ana has refreshed the language of cello music.
Ana studied cello and pedagogy at the Conservatory in Vienna and cello concert studies in Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. She obtained her Master of Arts degree from Vienna Conservatory. Ana was awarded by IBLA Grand Prize and Torneo Internationale di Musica, amongst others. Her original ideas are embodied in her own festival Treffpunkt Kunst in Vienna. Ana teaches at Richard Wagner Conservatory in Vienna and runs her own Cello Studio as well as an online school Vienna Cello Masterclass.
Àgnes Fejes was born in Budapest, Hungary and has played the bassoon since she was 9 Years old. Her early musical education began in Budapest. After her studies in Graz (concert area diploma in 2006 with distinction), she studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna from Richard Galler. In 2009, she completed this course with very good success. She was an awardee of the Austrian Foundation “Forum Hungaricum” and was a member of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation.
Since 2003 she plays in the following orchestras: The Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Hungarian State Oper, Helsingborgs Symphony Orchestra, Tonkünstler Niederösterreich, Synchron Stage Orchestra, Styriarte Festival Orchestra, Volksopera Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra, The Mozart Orchestra Vienna , Strauss Festival Orchestra, Recreation big Orchestra Graz, Theater Baden Orchestra.
As a Solist, she played solo works with The Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra in Vienna Palace, The Artist Orchestra Vienna, and The Wind Ensemble of the University of Graz. She also had solo performances with the Austrian Society of Contemporary Music. She is a brilliant teacher and has taken international master’s courses such as: in Korea, Lebanon, Budapest, and Vienna. Since 2019 she is Solo Bassoon Player in Győr Philharmonic Orchestra in Hungary.
Andreas Weber studied piano with Prof. Karin Merle at the Musikhochschule Köln/Germany and Prof. Hans Leygraf/Mozarteum Salzburg Austria, and further with E. Leonskaja, B.Seidlhofer and V.Margulis.
Diploma in the international piano competition Tomassoni. He performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout in Europe and Asia, especially with Trio Cartellieri and as partner with the violinist Albert Fischer. He holds master classes on music in music universities in Cincinnati/United States, Belgium, Seoul, Gwangju/Korea,Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Yamaha Center, Tokio, Beijing, Great Wall Academy at the National Academy of Music in Hanoi/Vietnam and is also jury member in national and international competitions in Germany, Austria, Japan, China and Australia.
CD productions with the Austrian cellist Hanna Spielbüchler (Brahms, Schubert, Franck) and Trio Cartellieri (Turina, Takacs, Piazzolla) and with Austrian violinist Albert Fischer (Mozart, Schubert and Brahms).
Since 2002, Andreas Weber is professor for piano in the university “Mozarteum” in Salzburg, Austria. Many of his students won first prizes in the national youth competitions of Germany and Austria and also won many prizes in renowned international piano competitions.
Since 2005, he is head of the Leopold Mozart Institute, University Mozarteum Salzburg, and the representative for furthers exceptionally talented young musicians in their artistic development especially through international concert engagements.
Since 2009 he is also professor at the International Summer Academy Mozarteum.
Robert Papócsi was born in Hungary, attended the music high school in Vác and then studied horn and music education at the “Liszt Ferenc” University of Music in Pécs, where he graduated in 1997.
He then studied brass music conducting / conducting at the Pécs Academy, where he graduated in 2003.
In 1996 he took the 3rd place in the competition of the Hungarian colleges for brass instruments.
He was a music teacher, teacher of brass instruments and choir director at the music schools in Szentendre and Kaposvár and in 2007 he was named “Teacher of the Year” at the Kaposvar Music School.
He was also the leader of several brass bands, with which he won various prizes in international competitions.
As a horn player he was engaged in the Budapest Operetta Theater, with the Pannon Philharmonie Pécs and from 2007 in the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
He also taught in Cairo from 2009 to 2011 at the “New Cairo British International School”.
He lives in Vienna since 2011 and plays here in various orchestras and ensembles, such as the Baden Theater Orchestra, the Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra and the Vienna Residence Orchestra.
In addition to teaching for Musica Mobile, he also teaches at the Richard Wagner Conservatory and directs the brass bands in Schleinbach and Matzen, as well as the Wiener Linien brass band.
Mr Felix Mak is a local composer and conductor. He has been the conductor of various local orchestras and has performed overseas for a number of times.
After graduating from Tokyo Shobi College of Music and Osaka University of Art, Mr Mak has devoted to developing his local music career. He is the Music Director and Conductor of St. Joseph’s Primary School, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School, True Light Middle School of Hong Kong (Primary Section) and S.K.H. St. James’ Primary School.
Mr Mak was invited to be the artistic director of the Hong Kong Fantasia Symphony Orchestra and the guest conductor of the Grandmaster Orchestral Music Society. And he was also invited to be the guest speaker for the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts of The Hong Kong Institute of Education from 2014. Mr. Mak was also invited to be the Professional Advisor of Austrian Chinese Music and Culture Exchange Association in 2019.
Professional Advisor – Austrian-Chinese Music and Culture Exchange Association
President – Hong Kong Youth Music Performers Association
Artistic Director – Hong Kong Fantasia Symphony Orchestra
Vice-President – Global Chinese Pop Music Association
Orchestral Music Director and Conductor – St. Joseph’s Primary School
Orchestral Music Director and Conductor – Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School
Orchestral Music Director and Conductor – The True Light Middle School of Hong Kong (Primary Section)
Orchestral Music Director and Conductor – S.K.H. St. James’ Primary School
Born in Mumbai, Marialena Fernandes has been since several years a recognized artist on the international scene. After acquiring her Licentiate Diploma of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM), Fernandes completed her education from the Mumbai University in Psychology. Winner of the All India Beethoven Piano Competition, Fernandes was awarded a scholarship to the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where she received her Diploma in Piano and Chamber Music Performance with unanimous distinctions.
Her Professors were Walter Panhofer, Bruno Seidlhofer, Tamas Vasary, Stanislav Neuhaus, Wilhelm Kempf.
Solo, Chamber Music and Orchestra concerts in most European capitals followed, but also in USA, Australia, Africa and Asia. Annual TV and Radio broadcasts, CD recordings.
1988-2006 Professor for Piano and Chamber Music at the Joseph Haydn Conservatory in Eisenstadt. Since 1991 Professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Workshops, Masterclasses around the globe, Jury member at International Competitions.
Artistic Director and International Program Curator in Crossover projects, in which Fernandes incorporates classical, jazz and world music fusions with an emphasis on Improvistion. Intercultural exchange between Students, Teachers and Audiences.
Since 2007 Series Cycle „Uno, Due, Tre“ in the prestigious Musikverein in Vienna.
Musical Dialog between Educators, Students as well as Audience participation.
Fernandes has initiated several Projects with Women Composers and Gender themes. In 2008 Marialena received the MIA Award for Woman with international background in the field of Art and Culture from the Austrian Ministry for Education and Culture. 2010 took the artist for a Sabbatical as scholar as well as faculty to the USA at the University of Urbana Champaign in Illinois. 2012 she was invited to participate at M.I.T Boston University in a Symposium on „Reconstructing Beethoven as Improvisor“. 2013 Fernandes attained the PhD degree from the University of Music and performing Arts Vienna.
Since 2015 Fernandes has initiated a project called „The Quest for Passion“ which takes place annually in India, in which she incorporates musicians from Europe and India in dialog with each other; but also involving talented youth discussing diverse artistic themes.
Baritone Fernando Araujo was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he began studying piano at the age of seven and composition at eleven. At the age of twelve he sang the role of the Third Spirit in a production of Mozart´s The Magic Flute in his native city. He studied Piano and Voice at Indiana University, Bloomington, and began his professional career as a vocal accompanist.
Since recent years he develops a career as an opera and concert singer, and his repertoire already encompasses many of the leading roles for the baritone voice, such as: Papageno at the Munich Philharmonie, Escamillo at the Lithuanian National Opera, Rigoletto at the Festival Winds of Baikal in Russia, Marcello in the production of Anton Juan at the Samsung Hall in Manila, and Mozart´s Figaro in the production of Eike Gramss and Josef Wallnig with the Mozart Opern- Institut , Salzburg.
He attended the Opera Studios of the Verbier Festival and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan and had the honor to sing under the baton of renowned conductors such as Dennis Russell Davies, Fabio Luisi, Ilmar Lapinsch and Hans Graf. At the Auditório Nacional de Música in Madrid he sang in a benefit concert together together Ruggero Raimondi. In the Grandi Voci International Singing Competition under the patronage of Grace Bumbry he won both the Audience Award and the Verdi Award.
Upcoming engagements include the roles of Germont in Verdi´s La Traviata and Amonasro in Aida at the Opernfestspiele Schloss Amerang in Germany, Figaro in Rossini´s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and the title role in the world-premiere of Hamlet by Ingo Kolonerics and Jeppe Jacobsen at the Skive Opera Festival in Denmark. In January 2019 Fernando will sing the baritone solo in Carl Orff´s Carmina Burana with the Philharmonie Salzburg at the Felsenreitschule. He is a soloist of the Salzburger Konzertgesellschaft, of the Kinderfestspiele and of the Oper im Berg Festival, and teaches in the Opera Dept. of the Mozarteum University, Salzburg.
Prof. Luz Leskowitz was born in Salzburg and started to play violin at the age of six. At the age of thirteen, he was admitted to the Music-Academy in Vienna where he studied with Vasa Prihoda and later with Riccardo Odnoposoff. At the Mozarteum in Salzburg, he studied viola and violin with Ernst Wallfisch. After that he studied with Ernst Wallfisch in Lucerne and with Yehudi Menuhin in London. Luz started a successful career with concerts in Europe, the Far and the Middle East, Africa, the USA (New York – Carnegie recital-hall, Alice Tully hall in Lincoln Centre and New York Town Hall), Brasilia, Russia, Korea and Japan.
Luz’s chamber music partners in the past and at present include Stefan Askenase, Paul Badura-Skoda, Wilhelm Kempff, Ingrid Haebler, Jörg Demus, Detlef Kraus, Jeremy Menuhin, Igor Oistrach, Alberto Lysy, Mstislav Rostropovitsch, David Geringas, Heinrich Schiff, Elly Ameling, Karl Leister, Hermann Baumann, Michala Petri, the Bartók-Quartet, Voces-Quartet, Members of the Amadeus Quartet and many, many others.
Inspired by the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Luz Leskowitz founded his first Chamber Music Festival in Germany, the Harzburger Musiktage in 1970. Motivated by the enormous success of his festival, he then founded 11 other International Chamber Music Festivals and Competitions in Austria, in Russia, in Korea, in Romania and all over Germany. Luz was the first and only one who started together with Hermann Baumann the “First International Hand-Horn Competition”. In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Salzburger Solisten. Since its formation, the ensemble performs regularly all over the world (Vienna-Musikverein, Amsterdam-Concertgebouw, London-Wigmore Hall, Milano – Verdi-Hall, Moscow / Conservatory etc.).
Luz was invited to serve as jury in many competition, including the first Brahms-Competition in Hamburg, the “International David Oistrakh Competition” etc. and started the “Intern. Salzburg-Mozart Chamber Music Competition” in Tokyo. Luz had also taught in various master classes especially on classic and romantic chamber music repertoire, in different countries like Japan, Korea and Russia.
Luz received from the Russian Government the “Lomonossov-Medaille” for cultural engagement in and outside Russia, and from the President of the Republic of Austria the title “Professor” for cultural engagement worldwide.
Luz Leskowitz is playing on the Stradivari Violin “Ex Prihoda” from 1707.
Judith Halasz, studied at the Vienna Conservatory with Prof. Hilda De Groote/Prof. Julia Conwell and graduated with honors in 2002.
She took masterclasses with KS Hilde Zadek, KS Walter Berry and KS Patricia Wise.
Further on she studied with Prof. Helena Lazarska, KS Edith Lienbacher, Georgeta Stoleriu, Mag. Martin Vachá, Carol Blaickner Mayo and Prof. Judith Kopecky.
From 2001-2003 she was a member of the Vienna State Opera (singing Papagena/The Magic Flute, Woglinde/Rheingold and Götterdämmerung, Najade/Ariadne auf Naxos, Karolka/Jenufa and many others).
As a guest she also was engaged at the Leipzig Opera (Lisa/La Sonnambula), the Graz Opera House (Parsifal), the State Theater in Karlsruhe, (Parsifal), the Vienna Chamber Opera, the Municipal Theater of Baden and the Theater an der Wien.
She sang concerts and festivals in Japan, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Greek, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Romania (Radio), Bulgaria (NDK), Poland, Egypt, Qatar, New Zealand and Australia.
In summer 2011 she was a soloist at the „Carinthian summer“ (D.Milhaud), in summer 2012 she was the „Kurfürstin“ (Der Vogelhändler/Zeller) and „Donna Elvira“ (Don Govanni/Mozart) in 2 festivals in Austria.
CD production/Naxos: “Susanna” (Mozart/Le Nozze di Figaro) and „Serenata interrotta“ (L.Scarmolin).
In addition to the concert and stage work, she also often performs sacral music in the cathedral of St. Stephan (Vienna) and works as well as in 2 music school of the state of Austria as a private coach since many years.
In April 2018 she performed R.Strauß “Four last songs“ in the Liszt academy in Budapest, in December 2019 the world premiere of “Jesu redemtor omnium” (by Guido Mancusi) and in March 2020 an concert with Mozart and Haydn Arias, all with the Dohnany philharmonics under Guido Mancusi.
In June 2021 she was asked to hold an online masterclass with the Iranian choir foundation Teheran.