Workshop 2023

Before we are artists, musicians, pianists, we are women. It is important that we care to our inner worlds- our bodies, minds and emotions— before we can be expected to maintain the high expectations which a performing career demands. For this reason we start every morning with a yoga and improvisatory movement session— to ground in the body and silence the mind. Sought-after and much admired yoga teacher Lena Röpert is a specialist in female yoga and will be leading the sessions.

What unites us all is our passion for art song: commitment to the piano and its relation to the sung text. Attending the workshop will be some of the foremost female art song pianists in the business today, including Prof. Kathleen Kelly (Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Baylor University) and Prof. Pauliina Tukiainen (Prof. Mozarteum Salzburg). These outstanding musicians will be available throughout the weekend as mentors and master teachers. The morning music sessions are a chance for the participants to try out repertoire and dive deeper into songs with both their mentors and peers, going beyond the hierarchical format of a teacher-student masterclass.

Perhaps the part that comes the least-naturally for artists, but whose importance has proven itself particularly in recent times, is seeking career support and advice from other professionals. The ability to network, market oneself and build a career led by core values are skills often overlooked in a formal classical music education. Performance coach Waltraud Österreicher will lead interactive afternoon seminars on self-esteem and self-management . The evenings will include round-table discussions and Q&As on relevant topics, moderated by guest speakers such as Prof. Natasha Loges (University of Freiburg, Royal College of Music) and Chanda VanderHart (University of Performing Arts Vienna). The themes for this year’s workshop are: portfolio careers, university positions and the importance of mentorship.