GUEST PROFESSOR for VIOLIN

Eszter Haffner was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1969. She studied for 13 years in the Gifted Musician Class at the Budapest Liszt Ferenc Music Academy with Andras Kiss, Ferenc Rados and György Kurtag. After the completion of her studies in Hungary, she came to the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria to study with Gerhard Schulz (Alban Berg Quartet) and Josef Sivo.
She received her Diploma with unanimous distinction and prize from the Department of Culture Vienna.
From 1987-1995 she participated in a variety of Masterclasses with Josef gingold, Lorand fenyves, Alberto Lysy, Tibor Varga, Igor Ozim, Sandor Vegh and in 1995, she completed postgraduate study in Holland with Viktor Liebermann and Philip Hirschhorn. Ms.Haffner has been the recipient of scholarships from the Alban Berg, M.Sobotka, Erasmus, Janecek and Ziehrer Foundations, as well as the PE Förderkreises (Promotion Circle ) in Mannheim, Germany.
She has also been prize winner in numerous international competitions: Concertino Praha, Koncz Violin Competition Hungary, Jugend Musiziert, Stephanie Hohl Vienna, International Chamber Music Competition Trapani and Caltanissetta Italy. Because of her successful career in the arts, she received Austrian citizenship.
She has taught at countless Music Festivals such as the Menuhin Festival Blonay, Prussia Cove, Sion, Brighton Festival, Römerberg Festival, Bates Festival, Montana Festival USA, Wörthersee Classics, Klangbogen Wien, Neuberger Kulturtage, Mondsee, Casals Festival France, Brahms Tage Mürzzuschlag, Styriarte Graz, Villa Musica, Cervantino Festival Mexico, Festival Tamaulipas, Haydn Festspiele, Schubertiade, Bregenzer Festspiele, Macau and Hong-Kong Festivals, Porto Gruaro Festival etc.
As soloist and chamber musician (violin and viola), she has appeared with artists such as Clemens Hagen, gerhard Schulz, Leonard Hokanson, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Alexander Lonquich, Arto Noras, Melvyn Tan, Pamela Frank, Lars Anders Tomter, Patrick Demenga, Christian Altenburger,Wolfgang Schulz, Marko Letonja, Nicholas Chumachenco and Stefan Vladar.
Her recordings reflect her unusually extensive musical range, covering chamber and concerto works from Haydn to Eisler. These include Piano Trios from Martinu, Mozart, Brahms, Schubert, Kodaly with the Haffner Trio, Mozarts Sinfonia Concertante with Bettina Gradinger, Schubert, Schumann and Eisler Sonatas on behalf of the Austrian National Bank.
As pedagogue, Ms.Haffner`s experiences include 1999-2002 assistant to Prof.Gerhard Schulz and violin Lecturer at the University of Music in Vienna, as well as being a regular violin and viola instructor at Neuberger Seminare, Casals Festival France, Danish Strings, Int.Sommer Academy Semmering and Tokio, Japan and in the USA and Villa Musica Germany. Since 2002 she has been Professor of Violin at the KUG University of Music Graz, Austria.
Ms. Haffner plays the „ ex Hamma Segelmann“ violin by Michelangelo Bergonzi (Cremona 1750) from the collection of the Austrian National Bank.

VIOLIN

Tímea studied violin at Franz Liszt University of Music in Györ and graduated as a violin teacher and chamber musician. She continued her studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in the class of Prof. Klara Flieder and received her master’s degree  in violin performance.
Later, she majored in baroque violin with Michi Gaigg at Anton Bruckner Universität Linz and graduated with highest distinction in baroque violin and historical performance.
She completed a postgraduate course in violin performance with Lavard Skou Larsen at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg and another postgraduate course in baroque and historical performance in Midori Seiler’s class at the Universität Mozarteum.
Tímea had the privilege to complete her studies at mastercourses led by Dénes Zsigmondy, Midori Goto, Helfried Fister, Hiro Kurosaki, “Freiburg Baroque Orchestra”- Daniela Helm and Rachel Podger.
She gained a wide range of orchestra experience as a soloist and member of the chamber orchestra “Cis” in Salzburg, as the concertmaster of the “Collegium Musikum Salzburg”, as section-leader at “Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra Pécs” and as a member of the “Salzburg Chamber Soloist” chamber orchestra, performing on tournées around Europe, in South America and Asia.
She had the opportunity to play several ORF live recordings and play concerts with the “Acrobat” contemporary quintet  in Europe and South Africa.
Since 2008 Tímea has been a member of the “Vienna Chamber Orchestra”, since 2012 the baroque ensemble “Bach Consort” and the baroque “Ensemble 1756”.
Tímea regularly performs with the baroque ensemble “Les Passion de L’Ame” in Bern and abroad, as well as with the French baroque ensemble “Les Concert Lorrain”.
She played as a guest violinist in “Concentus Musicus” with Nikolaus Harnoncourt, with “L’Orfeo” baroque ensemble and she was invited to play with “Freiburg Baroque Orchestra”. 

VOICE

 Born on 16.05.1984 in Shanghai, China. 2009 - State exam with diploma from Gustav Mahler Conservatory Vienna. 2009-2013 - Master Degree at the Anton Bruckner Private University. Since 2009 - Wiener Staatsoper Chor substitute. 2007 - Admission to the Wiener Akademiechor of the Wiener Konzerthaus, also admission in the Wiener Kammer Chor. 2009 - Admission to the substitute choir of the Wiener Staatsoper. Prizes: 1998 - First Prize at the "Shanghai students singing competition". 2000 - Laureate of the "Chinese National Competition" for young singers in Beijing.

TRAVERSO (BAROQUE FLUTE)

Born in Tokushima, Japan, Hiroko Huemer first made a Bachelor’s degree for flute at Tokyo College of Music under Junzo Hosokawa (formerly NHK Symphony Orchestra) before graduating with Distinction both from a Bachelor’s course as well as from a Master’s course at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna under Dorit Führer-Pawikovsky and Robert Wolf respectively. In 2012 Hiroko Huemer completes another degree with Distinction – this time a Master’s in Traverso at the Anton Bruckner Private University under Claire Genewein. In 2014 she finishes a two-year post-graduate course for Traverso and historical performance practice at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels under Barthold Kuijken and Frank Theuns. There she studies compositions published in 1728 and 1732, focussing on the cities of London, Paris, Hamburg and Amsterdam.  She has had the privilege to gather orchestra experience under Sigiswald Kuijken, Ton Koopman, Michi Gaigg or Heinz Ferlesch. Since 2012 she repeatedly played for Barucco and Salzburger Konzertgesellschaft 1756 baroque orchestras amongst others. She performs in countries like Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Hungary and Japan. Hiroko Huemer is co-founder of the baroque ensemble L’Entretien des Muses. More detailed information (also in Japanese) you can find on www.hiroko-huemer.com.