Master Class for Piano

Avedis Kouyoumdjian (1st week) / Anna Malikova (2nd week)
Christopher Hinterhuber (both weeks)
Peter Ovtcharov (both weeks)

Target group
Graduate and postgraduate students or highly advanced undergraduates with performing experience.

Course structure
Arrival: July 20 / Departure: August 3
Welcome meeting & Commencement of activities: July 21
Every participant will receive three lessons per week of 45 minutes each.

Repertoire
The master class repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary music. Previous years have always seen special attention paid to Viennese Classicism, to works by Central and Eastern European Composers, and to the music of the Second Viennese School. isa also encourages all students to bring along repertoire that has to do with the current year’s theme or is linked to it in terms of music history.
Learn about the background of your works, and use the power of your imagination!

Course language
English

Alongside the master classes given by well-known, leading artistic personalities, isa also offers participants additional learning opportunities in the form of workshops, lectures, and coaching sessions.
All supplementary workshops and lectures are accessible only in combination with a master class and are included in the course fee.

isa25 Competition: Award Wiener Musik & Music City Lab Award

As part of a competition (with an online pre-selection and live finals during the isaFestival), prizes will be awarded for outstanding musical interpretation.
Each award includes a cash prize of €1,000.

Awards Overview
Award Wiener Musik
For the best interpretation of a work related to Vienna

Music City Lab Award
For innovative and creative music projects in the field of classical music

What to Expect
The competition offers a stage for musical excellence and creative innovation.

We are looking for:
Fresh interpretations of the Viennese musical tradition

Original performance concepts featuring media integration or interdisciplinary approaches

Award Categories
Award Wiener Musik
Best interpretation of a work with a connection to Vienna
(e.g. Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Kreisler, Schrammelmusik, Schönberg, …)

Music City Lab Award
Innovative projects in classical music:
performance concepts, media integration, or interdisciplinary approaches

Eligibility
Open to isa25 participants – soloists or chamber music ensembles (up to 5 members)

Timeline
Submission:
By 15 June 2025 – send a video recording (via link) to
mistlbachner@mdw.ac.at

Pre-Selection:
By early July 2025

Final Round:
Live performance during isaFestival 2025
– jury decision on site

Award Ceremony:
During the isaFestival

Jury & Organization
Jury:
Chaired by Johannes Meissl

Organization:
Monika Mistlbachner

The isaFestival is the presentation platform for all isa participants, providing the opportunity to perform in public as part of its concerts. Locations are the splendid campus of the mdw and a diversity of locations in the city, from historical palaces to open air stages.
Exceptionally high artistic quality (soloist-level) is required.
Selection and final decisions regarding invitations to perform are made by isa’s artistic director.

Requirements:

• A high artistic level is a prerequisite for participation.
• Two demo recordings (video): One slow and one fast piece:

– One of the pieces must be from the Viennese Classical period (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven).
– The other piece can be from any stylistic era.

(Upload as video links)

Application fee: € 195
Course tuition fee:
one week € 430
two weeks € 790

Master class including practice opportunities
Participation in workshops, lectures, and competitions
Free admission to selected concerts of the isaFestival.

The application fee must be paid online or via bank transfer no later than April 15, 2025.
The course fee must be paid by July 1, 2025, after receiving confirmation of participation.

From July 1, 2025 the course fee can only be reimbursed in proven cases of force majeure (e.g. illness, accident, death in the family, etc.). In no case will the registration fee be refunded.