What is Young Masters?

Young Masters is a support and training programme for young top talents in classical music up to the age of 18.

The aim is to provide a good foundation for artistic development and to prepare for university and career.

The idea

Two completely different educational institutions - music school and university - develop together an additive programme that combines and optimises the advantages of both systems.

Music school thinks "from the bottom up", it builds young people up from the beginning, it is the first in the chain of education and offers top talents freedom for individual development, a wide field for experimentation and a protected atmosphere that gives security and self-confidence.

The university thinks "from the top", its metier is professional education, it is oriented towards the highest possible artistic level and takes young talents on their way in its Highly Gifted Course (HBK) and Preparatory Course (VBL). It thus offers a professional environment, a clear and realistic goal perspective and a necessary challenge.

Young Masters now brings both systems together. The young talents remain in their respective training courses, but receive special support through an additive programme that utilises the strengths of both institutes.

For the young talents of the music school, it is an introduction to the professional career of a musician; for the young students of the MDW, it is an opportunity to try out their skills in different contexts and thus develop themselves further.

The programme

It includes:

• Workshops with a special focus on body awareness and mental development
• Master classes, instrument-specific with eminent personalities
• The concert series "Treffpunkt Podium" in first-class concert halls in Vienna
• Soloist concerts with guest orchestras
• Orchestra projects with the "Young Masters Orchestra
• International travel and exchange projects (Young Master Players)

Experience and history

Young Masters is the result of a 15-year process of development and experience. In 2000, JSBM and MDW started a cooperation in the field of woodwind and brass promotion. Building on this, the concept was repeatedly modified and further developed.

Over the years, this has resulted in a programme that can be described as unique and has already attracted international attention.

While the trend in musical talent promotion today is usually towards special institutes that are either affiliated with a university (precollege) or run independently as "talent factory", YM is an open and flexible concept that creates a balance between free artistic development and competitive challenge.

Further development and goals

• Involvement of international TOP musicians for workshops and master classes
• Expansion of concert activities to first-class concert halls in Vienna and Austria
• Development of a chamber orchestra under the direction of renowned conductors
• Participation in international competitions and in the international concert scene. Carrying out exchange projects with international partners
• Awarding scholarships to the socially disadvantaged
• Special promotion of Austrian talents
• Establishment of a special school with a school leaving examination (Matura).

The partners

• Diakonie Bildung GmbH as the affiliated company of the Joh.-Seb.-Bach-Music School (JSBM)
• University of Music and Performing Arts (MDW)