2023-07-30 17:02:08
Where Selina Pilz is, her viola is not far. “I always say it’s the larger violin, then the question arises whether it’s the violin between your legs and a lot of people also understand ratchet instead of viola, but somehow people do understand it.” There is life without this viola not for Selina Pilz – not even without chamber music and contemporary music. “I’ve found my niche now – I enjoy both of these things so much.” Born in Tulln, she would like to make it into an internationally renowned orchestra. And she has been practicing for this since she was a child.
“For me, school really didn’t get enough, I had rehearsals during school. The teachers didn’t understand that. Since I’ve been studying, everything has been compatible, I don’t have the feeling that I’m missing out on anything in life.” Pilz studied viola at the Bruckner University in Linz and is currently studying further at the music and art private university in Vienna. She is also a substitute in the orchestra of the Baden stage and plays in several projects a year.
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ORF/Nina Pöchhacker Pilz would prefer to switch from the audience seat to the big stage in the cloud tower ORF/Nina Pöchhacker The Grafenegg Academy also tries out the unusual: György Ligeti, Hans Abrahamsen, Mauricio Kagel, Giovanni Sollima and George Crumb were on the program for the first concert.
Almost the whole world practices in Grafenegg
She trained to play in the orchestra in Grafenegg this July: The 24-year-old was admitted to this year’s Grafenegg Academy. In the Grafenegg Academy, 59 young musicians meet for almost ten days to become an orchestra. About 500 applied for this summer – with video and audition, says Christoph Moser, tutor in the Academy and professor for clarinet at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Only six young people from Austria made the admission.
Nationalities range from Argentina, Brazil and the United States to Great Britain, Spain, Poland, Azerbaijan, Iran and South Korea. Russians and Ukrainians, Chinese and Taiwanese play together in this orchestra. “It’s an international project and it’s important for us to show that there are no national borders when it comes to music. Music transcends nationalities, music works everywhere and that’s nice to see,” Moser said of the international interaction. He sees the potential to make it into an orchestra in everyone.
For ten days, the young adults received several hours of instruction a day, in small groups, individually and in an orchestra. They lived in accommodation in the Grafenegg Castle Park and played three concerts at the end of the Academy. Meals and lessons were free for them, and they received 800 euros as recognition. “That’s an appreciation – you’re valued here as a musician, even if you’re young,” says Pilz regarding the Academy.
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ORF/Nina Pöchhacker Many of the participants want to get a place in an orchestra ORF/Nina Pöchhacker The musicians are housed in these small houses on the site
Almost 60 young people living together for ten days – is it really just rehearsing and practicing? “There’s celebrations, too, but everyone’s focus is on the music. Everyone is incredibly motivated,” says Pilz, describing the atmosphere. Pilz is particularly pleased that so many people her age are enthusiastic regarding classical and new music.
In the audience rows at their concerts, the average age is a lot higher. “That’s why I’m interested in working on new concert formats, in thinking regarding how to get the audience involved and involved,” says Pilz regarding her ambitions. The task of the classical musicians of their generation is to bring young people to the concert. Concerts should be an experience.
Same string quartet for 16 years
She found her own passion for chamber music at the age of eight. “Since then there has been a string quartet with three friends. We sweated and rehearsed a lot together. And that’s when I learned how something small can become something big – the individual voice doesn’t sound good, but together, something completely different emerges, something really beautiful.”
And if the orchestra playing doesn’t work out? “I like to teach, so I would be really happy regarding a music school position and playing projects and ensembles every now and then – I prefer to be flexible and do something with everything.”
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