Department for Wind and Percussion Instruments

The range of wind and percussion instrument courses targets the “Best of the Best” and focuses on the job descriptions of soloist, ensemble musician, orchestra musician and instrumental teaching (IGP) in the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
International soloists and members of the large Vienna Orchestras are guaranteed excellent training in the central artistic subjects of saxophone, recorder, orchestra wind instruments and percussion.
The typical “Viennese instruments” (Viennese oboe, Vienna horn, Viennese timpani) are also taught along with the French oboe and double horn; historic instruments and auxiliary instruments as well as live-electronics complete the course contents.
Contemporary music, instrumental excellence and interdisciplinarity are the central focuses of the teaching and research. Providing innovative solutions, they enable our students to successfully face the challenges of an evolving music market. In previous years, this has led to the foundation of multi-award-winning start-up projects and world-class ensembles such as Five Sax, Ensemble NA+5, Vivid Consort, Duo Minerva, Louie's Cage Percussion, Mobilis Quartett or Ensemble Federspiel.
Opportunities to perform in the Wiener Musikverein, at the Salzburg Festival and at the Wien Modern Music Festival, regular practice auditions, masterclasses, art projects and a friendly student atmosphere ensure an optimal study environment.

The outstanding standard of our students and graduates can be seen in successful auditions at the Vienna Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra London, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Bamberg Symphony, Bavarian State Opera, Quatars Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, RSO Frankfurt, RSO Wien etc. They excel with prizes at international competitions (ARD Music Competition, Adolphe Sax International Competition, the Fanny Mendelssohn Prize, Osaka International Music Competition) and their engagements leads them to the most important venues of the international music scene, such as the Wiener Musikverein, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Carnegie Hall New York.

Orchestra Academy
 
The Tonkunstler Orchestra Academy and the department for Wind and Percussion Instruments at the MUK are united by the common goal of preparing and training young musicians for working in renowned orchestras.

A cooperation agreement between the two institutions makes it possible to combine the activities of the Academy with a Master's degree course at the MUK (specialising in orchestra performance) and to conclude with the academic title “Master of Arts”.

For those academics who wish to continue their studies at their home university, the MUK offers the possibility of attending individual courses free of charge. These courses completed at MUK can be submitted by the academics at their home university for crediting (in accordance with the agreements on the European Higher Education Area).