Music
Alumni in Focus Special: Gisela Zdenek
Piano
Gisela Zdenek © Susanne Gradl
On 9 July 2020, former mdw student Gisela Zdenek will be turning 100. Research in the run-up to her birthday celebration led members of her family to the mdw Archive, which in turn drew our attention to this strong-willed woman’s life history—which has always been accompanied by music. We had a birthday conversation with Zdenek about her time at the “Academy”.
Alessandro Baticci
Composition and Flute
Alessandro Baticci © Alessandro Baticci
It’s been 10 years since Alessandro Baticci began his studies in the mdw’s Tonmeister Education, Flute, and Composition programmes. And next year, he’ll be returning to what’s now his alma mater with a project of his own: DigitAize – Digitised String Instruments.
Giulia Brinckmeier
Violin
Giulia Brinckmeier © Raimund Appel
The exceptional violinist Giulia Brinckmeier discovered her talent for working as a concertmistress more or less by chance. But today, her dedication and energy are central to the sound of the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa.
Christina Krug
Instrumental Music Education/ Piano
Christina Krug © Schnabulerie
From educator to cultural manager to one of Austria’s best-known and most highly regarded cake designers. Christina Krug creates the most beautiful designer cakes, and her little café—which she calls “Schnabulerie”—is a lovingly designed oasis of peace and relaxation. This highly motivated master confectioner has truly found her calling and is now living her own very personal dream.
Bine Katrine Bryndorf
Protestant Church Music/ Organ
Bine Katrine Bryndorf © Britt Lindemann
Even at the young age of 12, Bine Katrine Bryndorf was convinced that the organ was her future. Today, she holds a professorship at the Royal Academy of Music in London and also serves as Castle Organist at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, Denmark, where she performs on instruments including the world-famous organ by Esaias Compenius (1610) every week.
Matthias Kranebitter
Composition
Matthias Kranebitter © Igor Ripak
His works, characterised by authenticity, density, and extreme heterogeneity, probe music’s outer margins. 2018, Matthias Kranebitter became president of the International Society for Contemporary Music. An exceptional composer on a quest for new worlds.
Sonja Wurm
Instrumental Music Education/
Flute
© Astrid Bartl
“I love my profession. Everything I do, I do for my students. And I couldn’t imagine a better job.” Educator and flutist Sonja Wurm has devoted her life to music education—a portrait of a passion for teaching.
Anna Rendl
Instrumental Music Education/ Violin
© Andrej Grilc
The young violinist Anna Rendl dared to embark on an adventure: she went freelance. Not as a musician, but rather with her own concert agency, Artphonia. She spoke with mdw Magazine about challenges and successful moments.
Khatia Buniatishvili
Piano
© Gavin Evans
She gave her orchestral debut as a soloist at the young age of six. Today she can already look back on an outstandingly successful career, numerous honours, and five released albums. Khatia Buniatishvili sat down recently with mdw Magazine to talk about memories from childhood and her student days – and about being compared with pop stars.
Daniela Ivanova
Viola
©Lammerhuber
Daniela Ivanova’s life is ruled by her love of music. The violist and mdw alumna is a passionate teacher and conductor, performs as a soloist and as a chamber musician, and has also done what only few women have done so far: she’s a member of the Vienna Philharmonic.
FIJUKA
Popular Music/ Voice and Bass
Ankathie Koi (links) und Judith Filimónova © Clemens Schneider
Ever since its inception in 2011, the German-Austrian twosome Fijuka—consisting of Ankathie Koi and Judith Filimónova—has been causing a stir on the Austrian music scene with enthusiastically experimental pop. We spoke with Judith Filimónova about mdw memories and her plans for the future.