Annette Jakovcic, a cellist originally from Englewood, New Jersey, enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. She entered the Academy in the Fall of 2022. Since 2021, she has been a substitute cellist for the Vienna State Opera while studying for her Master’s Degree at Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg. She previously studied at Columbus State University and The New England Conservatory in Boston. She has played as a solo and chamber musician in the U.S., Europe and Asia. A third-generation musician in her family, she plays on a 1742 Andrea Castagneri cello from Paris that was her grandfather’s.

American violinist Robert Sanders, from Skokie, Illinois, received his first violin instruction at the age of five from his mother, Tamara Glassburg, and his father, James Sanders. He continued his studies at the Music Institute of Chicago with Prof. Hye-Sun Lee and Prof. Robert Hanford. Robert Sanders completed his Bachelor study with Prof. Renée Jolles at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, with a Minor in General Psychology. While at Eastman, he served as concertmaster of the Eastman Philharmonia and was a member of the Asha String Quartet. He has completed master classes with artists such as Augustin Hadelich, Sarah Chang, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Tessa Lark and Paul Kantor and has appeared as a chamber musician with the Ariel, Jupiter, Schumann and St. Lawrence String Quartets.

Robert Sanders is a prizewinner at numerous competitions, resulting in solo appearances with various orchestras in the USA. In the summers, Robert has attended the Chautauqua Institution as a concertmaster of the Festival Orchestra, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival, where he performed chamber music with Robin Scott, first violinist of the internationally renowned Ying Quartet. He appeared as a stipendiary at the Aspen Music Festival in the summer of 2021.

Robert is continuing to study music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

American violinist Lucas Stratmann is from New York City and studied at the Juilliard School, receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees under the tutelage of Prof. Sylvia Rosenberg and Prof. Masao Kawasaki. He served as concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra from 2020-2021.

Lucas Stratmann is a prizewinner of numerous competitions, including the 2016 Aspen Music Festival Violin Competition. In 2015, he was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Artist Award from NPR’s “From the Top”. Since then, he has performed as soloist and chamber musician in the USA and Japan, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and David Geffen Hall. He has also performed as a soloist on three separate concert series with The Little Orchestra Society and is active as a teacher. He has spent his summers studying and performing at the Aspen Music Festival, the Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg and the Taos School of Music.

Lucas has won the position of lead of the 2nd violin section in Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Austrian Bernhard Bittermann began playing trumpet at the age of five. He began studying at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at 15. At the age of 22, he won the audition for the Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic in Salzburg. Bernhard has played with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony, the Tonkünstler Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, under renowned conductors. Bernhard Bittermann has been awarded first prizes in the category 'trumpet solo' at the Austrian competition Prima la Musica at the regional and national levels. In 2022 he won an audition to join the Bühnenorchester/stage orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.

Bernhard has won a position in the Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.

Bernard won an audition to join the Vienna State Opera / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jannis Hoesch, born in Germany in 1995, received his first violin instruction at the age of five years. After early studies at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, he changed to the viola in 2013, and completed his Bachelor at the College of Music and Theater in Munich under Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer. Since October 2019, he has been working on his Master's in viola with Prof. Thomas Riebl at the Salzburg Mozarteum University. Hoesch has also garnered valuable experience at the Gstaad String Academy, where he worked with Ettore Causa from the Yale School of Music.

At the ‘International Music Competition Rome Grand Prize Virtuoso’, Hoesch was awarded a first prize in 2017.

Jannis Hoesch has gained orchestral experience in the Young German Philharmonic, as principal violist of the German String Philharmonic, and at the International Orchestra Institute Attergau of the Vienna Philharmonic. From 2017 to 2019, he was a stipendiary at the Orchestra Academy of the WDR Symphony Orchestra in Cologne, which was followed by a fixed-term contract.

As a stipendiary of the SINFONIMA Foundation, Jannis Hoesch received a contemporary viola bow as a generous loan.

Jannis won a position as solo viola in the Orchestra Philharmonie in Essen, Germany in October 2022.

Austrian violinist David Kessler graduated from the Feldkirch Music High School and then attended the College of Music in Trossingen. Before entering the Academy, he studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He has won several first prizes and special prizes for "impressive virtuosity combined with sensitive musicianship". Among these have been the special prize of ESTA Austria, the Bärenreiter Prize as a soloist and chamber musician at Prima la musica Austria and the special prize from Jugend musiziert in Switzerland. As the youngest participant he received the first prize at the Luigi Nono International Chamber Music Competition in Turin in 2017. David Kessler has obtained orchestral experience as a member of the International Orchestra Institute Attergau (IOIA) and the Vienna Philharmonic Summer Academy in Salzburg.

Katharina Kratochwil, born in Austria in 1998, received her early instruction on the oboe at the age of seven years at the Tulln Music School from Eva Griebl-Stich. Since 2013, she has been an oboe performance major at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna with Prof. Thomas Höniger. She has been awarded various prizes at the ‘Prima la Musica’ competitions and the competition for young talent on the Viennese oboe.

Katharina Kratochwil has collected orchestral experience as a substitute with the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra, the Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, the Vienna Symphony and the Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. In addition, she has participated in numerous master classes, such as those of Mathilde Lebert and Ivan Podyomov, and has taken part in the Angelika-Prokopp-Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Katharina is playing with the Vienna Volksoper

Petra Liedauer was born in 1995 in Austria. She received her first clarinet instruction from Markus Renhart at the age of eight years. After preparatory studies at the Anton Bruckner Private University with Prof. Gernot Fresacher, she changed to the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where she was taught by Prof. Johann Hindler and Prof. Rupert Fankhauser. She is currently studying with Prof. Christoph Zimper.

Petra Liedauer has been awarded several prizes and special prizes at various competitions, including Prima la musica, Musik in kleinen Gruppen, a Rotary stipend, the Kiwanis Arts Prize, the Lions Competition and Musica Juventutis.

As a participant in various master classes, she has collected valuable musical stimulus from Matthias Schorn, Gerald Pachinger, Helmut Hödl and others.

She has collected orchestral experience with the Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, the Klagenfurt Symphony and the Bühne Baden.

Petra won a position in the Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera in January 2022.

Alberto Bonillo Losa, born in Spain in 1997, began the study of the trombone at the age of seven at the conservatory of his hometown, Tomelloso, with José Ramón Campos. In 2007, he continued his studies with Enrique Alberca and beginning in 2013 with Prof. Carlos Gil in Valencia. Two years later, he continued his Bachelor studies in Zaragoza with Professors Daniel Perpiñán and Eusebio Sáez, which he completed in 2019 with distinction. In 2019, Alberto Bonillo Losa was admitted to study trombone in the class of Prof. Ian Bousfield at the College of the Arts in Bern. He will complete his Master's studies in 2021.

Alberto Bonillo Losa has gathered orchestral experience with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestra, the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, and the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Joven Orquesta Nacional de España.

As a chamber musician, Alberto Bonillo Losa has collected experience as a member of the Nineties Trombone Ensemble, the Trombone Unit Hannover, the JONDE Brass Ensemble, Euskadi Brass and the Brass Academy Alicante Brass Ensemble.

Alberto is continuing to study music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Theresia Prinz, born in Austria in 1997, began with flute instruction at the age of six years at the music school in Krieglach. She later attended the Johann Joseph Fux Conservatory Graz and studied with Prof. Reingard Hechtl, also receiving instruction from Prof. Gottfried Hechtl. At this time, Theresia Prinz won several first prizes at the ‘Prima la musica’ national competitions. Thereafter she studied first with Prof. Hansgeorg Schmeiser at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and since 2017 with Prof. Erwin Klambauer at the University of the Arts Graz.

Theresia Prinz was able to gather valuable orchestral experience as principal flutist of the Viennese Jeunesse Orchestra and as a substitute in orchestras such as the Graz Philharmonic, working with numerous reputable conductors. She has also received important artistic input from masterclasses with Peter-Lukas Graf, Sophie Cherrier, Wally Hase, Nathalie Rozat, and others.

Theresia has won a position as deputy 1st flute with the Vienna Symphony in December 2022.

Julian Ritsch, from Innsbruck, Austria received his first trumpet lessons at the age of seven. During high school -he studied at the Tyrolian State Conservatory. In October 2019 he moved to the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he has since been studying with Univ.-Prof. Johann Plank. He gained his first orchestral experience as a member of Wiener Jeunesse Orchestra and the European Union Youth Orchestra and as a substitute with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Volksoper.

Moritz Schulte, born in Braunschweig (DE) in 1998, began playing the flute at the age of 10. After various prizes at national youth competitions, he began his flute studies with Prof. Angela Firkins at the Lübeck University of Music in 2016 and switched to his current professor Erwin Klambauer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in 2020. Moritz Schulte gained professional experience with orchestras such as the “Ensemble Resonanz”, the “Hofkapelle Meiningen”, the Concert Verein Wien and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra

Sandra Seržāne was born in 1998 in Latvia. She began with violin instruction at the age of eight at the Jazeps Medins Music School. Between 2012 and 2017, she studied at the Emils Darzins Music School for highly talented young people with Prof. Romans Šnē. During this time, she was a prizewinner at several prestigious competitions in Lithuania and Latvia.

At the age of 16, Sandra Seržāne debuted with the Latvian National Orchestra and received support from diverse Latvian organizations including the Herman Braun Foundation, the Inessa Galante Foundation and the Pyotr Aven Foundation. In 2016, she participated in the International Music Forum Trenta of the Vienna Philharmonic in Slovenia, appearing as part of the closing concert in the Brahms Hall of the Vienna Musikverein.

Since 2017, Sandra Seržāne has studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Lieke Te Winkel. Between 2018 and 2020, she took part in the Angelika-Prokopp-Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic in Salzburg, while also in 2020 receiving instruction with Prof. Hubert Kroisamer and Prof. Milan Šetena at the International Master Course in Slavonice. She has substituted in the Vienna State Opera since September 2018.

Sandra Seržāne performs on a violin made by Johann Rombach und Masayuki Komatsu, which is provided by a private sponsor in Vienna.

Sandra is continuing to study music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Austrian Thomas Steinwender received his first horn instruction at the age of 10 years at the Musikum Lungau. In 2009, he was a prizewinner at the national ‘Prima la musica’ competition with special mention. In 2010, he began his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Thomas Jöbstl and completed his degree in 2018 with Prof. Christoph Peham.

For many years, Thomas Steinwender has participated in the Angelika-Prokopp-Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic. He has gathered orchestral experience as substitute with such ensembles as the Lower Austrian Tonkünstler Orchestra, the Vienna Volksoper and the Vienna Symphony. In addition, he has performed at the Salzburg Festival and the Tyrol Festival in Erl. International concert tours have taken him to countries such as China, Japan and the USA.

Thomas Steinwender was a member of the Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera from 2018-2021. Beginning in September 2021, he is principal horn of the Vereinigten Bühnen of Vienna. He is also active with several chamber music ensembles, including the woodwind quintet ‘qWINDett’ and the ‘Klangperipherie’.

Thomas plays with the Orchestra of Vereinigte Buhnen Wien.

Traian Sturza, born in 1997 in Romania, started playing bassoon at the age of 10 in the National School of Arts in Iaşi, Romania with Prof. Valentin Petrescu. He also studied for many years with Constantin Barcov. In 2015, he was awarded the Ioan Goia Trophy.

After graduating from the School of Arts in Iasi, Traian Sturza was awarded the Woodruff Award Scholarship and completed his Bachelor at the Schwob School of Music in Columbus, Georgia, USA, where he received instruction from Dr. Ronald Wirt and Dr. Stephanie Patterson. He has taken part in numerous music festivals, such as the Britten-Pears Young Artist Program, the Brevard Music Festival, the Pacific Music Festival, and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

As an orchestral musician, Traian Sturza has worked with orchestras in the USA, such as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Lagrange Symphony, and spent a season as co-principal bassoonist of the Malmo Opera in Sweden. As a soloist, he has performed with the Moldova Philharmonic in Iaşi, Romania, the Lagrange Symphony, the CSU Philharmonic, and the Brevard Music Festival Orchestra.

Currently, Traian Sturza is completing his master's degree as a student of Dag Jensen at the College of Music and Theater in Munich.

Traian has joined the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra.

Bence Temesvári, born in 1999 in Budapest, began playing the cello at the age of six years. Since 2015, he has studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna under Prof. Robert Nagy, Prof. Peter Somodari and Prof. István Várdai.

Bence Temesvári has been a prizewinner at several prestigious competitions. These include the David Popper Competition in Hungary in 2018; a second prize in 2018 and a Grand Prix in 2019 at ‘Talents for Europe’ in Slovakia; and the first prize at the Mahler Competition in the Czech Republic in 2019. In 2020, he won the first prize at the Danubia Talents International Competition in Vienna and the first prize at the International Competition in Treviso.?

Temesvári Bence has received several scholarships, including for the Vienna Philharmonic chamber music course as part of the International Music Forum in Trenta, Slovenia in 2015, the summer camp of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in the USA in 2016 and 2017, the European Union Youth Orchestra (2019-2021), and the Pacific Music Festival (Japan 2018, 2020, 2021).

Bence won a 2nd solo cello position with the Vienna Symphony in March 2022.

Carlos Aguilar Vargas was born in Chile in 2000, where at the age of nine he received his first instruction on the double bass from Prof. Víctor Fuentealba. In 2014, he commenced studies at the Conservatory of the University of Magallanes with Prof. Esteban Pérez. He came to Vienna in 2019 and studied with Prof. James Rapport, before in the same year being admitted to the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna in the class of Prof. Alois Posch.

In 2018, Carlos Aguilar Vargas received the ‘Jorge Peña Hen Prize’ in Chile, the highest distinction awarded to musicians from Chilean youth orchestras. He made his debut as a soloist in the Vienna Musikverein in 2019. Vargas also participated in the ‘Young Masters Program’ and performed with the Webern Symphony Orchestra of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He has also taken part in master classes with Ödön Rácz, Ismael Torres, Oleksandr Gunchenko, Malcolm Struthers, Alejandra Santa Cruz and others.

Carlos Aguilar Vargas has been invited to perform at various festivals with diverse ensembles and orchestras in South America, New Zealand and Europe. He has also played with youth orchestras in Chile, Ecuador, New Zealand and Austria.

Carlos won an audition to join the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.