‘The opportunity to play for Mr. Ottensamer was a once in a lifetime event and something I will forever be grateful for. It is not often that young American musicians have the opportunity to experience European musical pedagogy and traditions, so I personally felt very lucky to have some time to engage with a style and energy that is in many ways different from our day to day experience in American conservatories.’
Katia Waxman - Clarinet
Chicago, Illinois
Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin, OH)
‘It was extremely interesting having a different non-American perspective on a lot of different excerpts and repertoire. It was also fascinating seeing the different types of trumpets he played on that were very different than what is normally played on in America.’
James Vaughn - Trumpet
Champaign, IL
Gap Year – Americorps Volunteer, Clarksdale, MS
‘The master class with Mr. Daniel Ottensamer was truly a wonderful and educational experience; I am grateful for the Vienna Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall for the precious opportunity. I played the Fantasiestücke by Robert Schumann, and got numerous constructive tips for improvement.
As American clarinetists, we all acknowledge that the system works quite differently in Austria. As one who has never been to Austria, attending a Master Class with Mr. Ottensamer was an eye-opening experience. In spite of the cultural/systematical difference, the Master Class truly showed me the unity of music––that music is the universal language above all. ‘
Sara Hahn, - Clarinet
South Korea
Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, PA
‘(The Master Class) was really insightful...inviting…and challenging…everyone played such different pieces and everyone plays so differently. It was nice to hear how he (Mr. Flury) treats and works with different people. Listening to him talk was really exciting because although he is an orchestral player, he has such a soloistic way of thinking about music and I’m sure it translates into his principal flute playing as well. So, to have that mindset of intention but also translating a lot of expressiveness is exciting.’
Annie Wu – Flute
Pleasanton, CA
New England Conservatory/Harvard University
‘It was a really great experience...It’s always great to play for European players because they have a very different approach to talking about music...the words they use, the way they describe phrasing...describing similar concepts in a different way in different language…I felt this instant connection as if I was in a private lesson with this person and he is working with me and I’m working with him and there was an exchange of ideas and not just him talking at me and me playing. I really liked that.’
Alex Ishov – Flute
Philadelphia, PA and St. Petersburg, Russia
Eastman School of Music
‘It was an awesome experience’
Simon Housner - Cello
Cherry Hill, NJ
‘I found the Master Class to be very informative and constructive to my growth as a musician. This experience was different in that it was more serious and intense than other master classes I have been part of. It was quite an honor to be part of the inaugural Master Class Program.’
Ryan Chung – Cello
Manhasset, NY