Master Classes for String Soloists

July 21 – August 3, 2025
Vienna

  • Teachers

    Violin
    Tanja Becker-Bender (1st week) / Dalibor Karvay (2nd week)
    Hagai Shaham (both weeks)
    Dmitri Torchinsky (1st week) / Dora Schwarzberg (2nd week)
    Ulf Wallin (both weeks)

    Viola
    Lars Anders Tomter (1st week) / Nobuko Imai (2nd week)

    Violoncello
    Emmanuelle Bertrand (1st week) / Torleif Thedeen (2nd week)
    Amit Peled (1st week) / Xenia Jankovic (2nd week)

    Double Bass
    Dorin Marc (both weeks)

    Accomponists

    Violin
    Yuliya Balabicheva (Tanja Becker-Bender / Dalibor Karvay)
    Julia Gurvitch-Brodt (Hagai Shaham)
    Aki Maeda ( Dora Schwarzberg)
    Nikolina Ljiljak ( Ulf Wallin)

    Viola
    Andrés Añazco

    Violoncello
    Baiba Osina (Amit Peled / Xenia Jankovic)
    Mari Sato (Emmanuelle Bertrand / Torleif Thedeen)

    Double Bass
    Dunja Robotti (1st week)
    Matthias Gerstner (2nd week)

  • Target Group, Course Structure, Repertoire and Course Language

    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

  • Workshops, Lectures, Coaching Sessions

    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.

  • Awards

    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

  • Audition

    CALL FOR SOLOISTS – LIVE AUDITION

    Webern Kammerphilharmonie | Conductor: Vladimir Kiradjiev
    Concert Date: 29 July | Congress Center Baden

    The solo parts for the upcoming concert of the Webern Kammerphilharmonie will be awarded through a live audition.

    Eligibility:
    Only isa students who are available throughout both weeks of the program may participate.

    Required Repertoire (sorted by instrument):

    Violin

    Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 – 1st movement: Allegro molto appassionato

    Joseph Haydn: Sinfonia concertante in B-flat major, Op. 84 – 1st movement: Allegro
    (with oboe, bassoon, and cello)

    Violoncello

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, Op. 33

    Joseph Haydn: Sinfonia concertante in B-flat major, Op. 84 – 1st movement: Allegro
    (with oboe, bassoon, and violin)

    Registration & Further Information

    Details on audition times and the registration process will be announced shortly.

    We look forward to many applications and wish all participants the best of luck in their preparation!

  • Concerts

    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.

  • Application and Application Requirements

    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)

  • Fees

    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.

Suche

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.