’It’s a super inspiring place, with many music festivals and concerts throughout the year, and Salzburg is also so pretty – like a fairytale cake!’ says the violinist
I chose the Mozarteum mainly because of my teacher, Benjamin Schmid, and I’ve never regretted my decision – things only became better and better!
Lessons with Schmidt are very music-oriented; he always receives what you give him and enhances that, and doesn’t try to change your playing. He’ll give you other musical ideas, but what I really like is that every one of his students has their own way of playing. It’s super important for me that he supports my musical identity and helps me develop it.
The day-to-day life for a master’s student like me is more relaxed and flexible compared to that of undergraduates. It depends on what’s going on in your life at the moment: the university has lots of projects you can partake in, so there are super intense periods with six hours of rehearsals and lessons in between, and days when I don’t have to go to school at all.
I was so surprised when I first came to the Mozarteum: it doesn’t have so many students, and it’s so friendly and supportive. It’s very international too – you hear many different languages and hear so many new ideas by playing with people that have grown up in different places. And, of course, it’s special that it’s Mozart’s birthplace.
Some of my favourite memories have been the orchestral projects, where we play in big Salzburg halls, or opera productions. I didn’t have any experience in opera before going, and I really love it. I also love that the school has so many chamber music opportunities, which is one of my favourite things to do in music: there’s no hierarchy, everyone is equal and we just communicate through playing.
The most important thing is to be yourself but also to be open to new people and new ideas; you learn so much from fellow students. It’s a super inspiring place, with many music festivals and concerts throughout the year, and Salzburg is also so pretty – like a fairytale cake! Just keep being motivated and doing what you love. If you do that, you’re going to have a great time.
Subscribers to The Strad receive the 2025 Degrees supplement free with their copy of the May 2025 issue
Read: My experience: violinist Salomé Bonnema, Royal Conservatoire The Hague
Read: My Experience: violinist Louisa Staples, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
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