Austrian International
Piano Seminar and Festival

Ebenfurth, Austria
July 24 - August 10, 2009

Concert Opportunities and Summer Study
for Advanced Pianists

Faculty for the Austrian International Piano Seminar and Festival
Adam Wibrowski, founder and artistic director, Conservatory of Paris
Dr. William Wellborn, San Francisco Conservatory

Dates and Program Eligibility
The dates for the 2009 Austrian International Piano Seminar and Festival are July 24-August 10. Arrival and check-in at the dorm will be on Friday, July 24. Departure is on Monday, August 10. The program is open to advanced pianists of various ages, including teachers and auditors.

Location and Special Excursions
The Austrian International Piano Seminar and Festival is located in the charming town of Ebenfurth, Austria, a region rich in musical tradition. Less than an hour from Vienna, Ebenfurth is close to the birthplaces of composers Franz Liszt and Joseph Haydn, and is centrally located from the palaces of Eisenstadt and Esterházy. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death, and our program includes a trip to his birthplace in Rohrau. Music of Haydn is especially encouraged this year. Ebenfurth is also centrally located from Vienna, and the palaces of Eisenstadt and Esterházy, points of interest which we shall also visit.
Festival concerts featuring guest artists and seminar participants and are held throughout the session. An excursion to Vienna allows us to see the magnificent city that was once the home of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert, and to immerse ourselves in the rich Austrian musical tradition. A special highlight will be a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the nearby St. Margarethen Opera Festival. Swimming and recreation are also possible nearby in the lovely Neufeld Lake.

Lodging
Students will be housed in the modern and spacious VivaSport dormitory facility in Neufeld, which is convenient to the practice and teaching facilities at the nearby Ebenfurth School. For family members who may also wish to visit during the session, or for those participants who prefer not to stay at the dorm, lodging is also available at various hotels (for an additional cost) in and around Ebenfurth.

Travel
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Europe. Participants should fly in to the Vienna airport and plan to arrive by 14:00 on July 24. Dr. Wellborn will personally greet those arriving in Vienna on this date, and escort them by pre-arranged taxi vans for the short drive to Ebenfurth.

Music Study and Performances
The Austrian International Piano Seminar and Festival provides an exciting opportunity for intensive study and performance for advanced pianists. Students study with both Mr. Wibrowski and Dr. Wellborn, and will receive a minimum of 5-6 private lessons and masterclasses, in addition to the public performances, during the session. Participants should prepare a 30-60 minute program that is ready for coaching and public performance. In addition to solo music, there is also coaching for duos in four-hand repertoire.

Festival concerts are held in Vienna, Ebenfurth, Neufeld, the elegant resort town of Baden, and at the beautiful 18th century concert room at the Maria Teresa Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt.

Artist Faculty

Adam Wibrowski Founder of the Austrian International Piano Seminar and Festival, Adam Wibrowski is a graduate of the Superior School of Music in Krakow, Poland, and the Sorbonne in Paris. He received first prizes in the Polish National Inter-Conservatory Competition in Warsaw and the Union Française des Artistes Musiciennes Competition in Paris, and the Diploma of Honor in the Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona. In 1979, Wibrowski was a recipient of the French National Professor Award in Keyboard and Chamber Music, the highest diploma in the French National Conservatory system. His activities include concerts, masterclasses, and workshops throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States. A frequent member of international juries such as the Gina Bachauer, Gilmore, Montreal, Warsaw, and Artur Rubinstein competitions, Wibrowski teaches at the Conservatoire Hector Berlioz in Paris. Founder of the In Search of Chopin tours, Wibrowski is an internationally recognized authority on the life and music of Chopin.

William Wellborn An active pianist throughout Europe and North America, William Wellborn has performed in twenty states and ten countries. Festival appearances include the American Liszt Society, the New Orleans Institute for the Performing Arts, the Paderewski Festival, and the Chopin chez George Sand festival de piano in La Châtre, France. Wellborn has presented masterclasses and lectures for such organizations as the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, the 2000 World Pedagogy Conference, and the Conservatory of Paris, as well as Music Teachers Associations across the United States. A faculty member of the San Francisco Conservatory since 1989, Wellborn taught at the Masterclasses of Saint Malo from 1998-2003. A scholar of historic pianists, he created and hosted the San Francisco radio program “Piano Legacy.” Wellborn records for the Marco Polo and Cambria Master Recordings labels, is the founding president of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the American Liszt Society, and Co-Director of the acclaimed The World of Franz Liszt and In Search of Chopin tours.

Tuition and Meals
The cost for the eighteen-day program is $1850 USD. This fee includes the cost of lessons, dormitory lodging, and the breakfast and luncheon meals. Although the dinner meal is not provided, numerous restaurants are within walking distance, and as a rule, the group usually dines together.

Application
The deadline for receipt of applications is April 20, and participants will be notified of acceptance no later than May 1. Since enrollment is limited to 20 pianists, early application is encouraged. Please include a CD of your playing, approximately 20-30 minutes in length, featuring at least two or three contrasting works, along with a current resume. The Austrian International Piano Seminar and Festival is also open to music teachers who wish to participate as either a performer or an auditor. For auditors, the tuition fee is $1200 USD and no tape is required.