Hermann-Lietz School - Haubinda
Westville Girl's High School, Durban, South Africa
Phorms Süd
Overview
From the age of 16, I participated in the International Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University Salzburg. Coming from a small provincial town like Illertissen, it was an eye-opening experience to suddenly be surrounded by international students, many of them from Japan and other parts of the world. This exposure to diverse musical perspectives and high-level training gave me the motivation and drive I needed. Already in my second year, I was honored to perform in the Academy’s final concert — a milestone that marked the beginning of my journey toward professional music studies.
* 1900 - † 1982
Professor Winfried Wolf was my first true introduction to the international music world. From 1978 to 1982, I had the privilege of studying piano with him in private lessons and through his masterclasses. He dedicated his time generously, sharing not only his technical expertise but also his deep musical insight and experience from decades on the concert stage.
Wolf himself was a pianist of international renown. Born in Vienna in 1900, he studied at the Vienna Conservatory and began his concert career in the 1920s, later teaching in Berlin, Lisbon, and, from 1961 until his death in 1982, at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Over the course of his career, he performed in Europe’s great concert halls, collaborated with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, and left behind compositions including the Suite Madeirense, written during his years in Madeira.
For me as a young musician from a small Bavarian town, his mentorship was transformative. He opened doors into a wider musical world, and the foundation he laid became a cornerstone for my later studies at the Mozarteum.
* 1930 - present
After the passing of Professor Winfried Wolf, I continued my piano studies with Professor Sergio Perticaroli, an internationally renowned pianist and long-time professor at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He regularly gave masterclasses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, where I joined his classes. While our connection was not as personal as the mentorship I experienced with Professor Wolf, his teaching nevertheless provided me with valuable exposure to international performance standards and broadened my perspective on piano playing. At that stage, without a steady mentor based in Salzburg to fully prepare me for the entrance exam, I initially turned towards studies in art and handicraft education, including pedagogy, before eventually pursuing my formal path in music.
Herbie Hancock
* 1940 - present
In 1987, I had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a jazz workshop with the iconic Herbie Hancock at the Mozarteum Summer Academy. Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is a celebrated American jazz pianist, composer, and recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Awards. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to jazz, Hancock began his career with Donald Byrd's group before joining the legendary Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped redefine jazz rhythm sections and played a pivotal role in shaping the post-bop sound. The workshop provided invaluable insights into jazz improvisation, composition, and performance, guided by one of the most influential figures in modern music. This experience remains a highlight of my musical journey.
Memories & Impressions
I still carry vivid memories of my time at the Mozarteum Summer Academy. The slideshow captures some of these moments — just click on a picture to open it — showing the atmosphere of the workshops and the inspiration I gained from working alongside international students.
Certificates & Concert Programmes
Here you can also find scans of my certificates and concert programmes from these years, documenting both my participation in masterclasses and my performances in the Academy’s final concerts.
