Three years of Penthesila

"The first three years are the hardest."  There we sat, in the office of Peter Schmid, the design mastermind behind D.signwerk, which has generously supported us since our start.

Back then we laughed, my co-founder Markus Kaar and I, today we know what he meant.

„Wow, you are building your own masterclass? That must feel great!" That's another reaction I've heard often. That too, is totally right.

Penthesilea has been an incredibly exciting journey for me since its start. Never in my life could I have imagined all that was behind it when I first discussed my "crazy" idea with Markus. Since then, we have created an experience for over 50 students that, at best, has helped them build their own musical skills and jump over one or two self-imposed hurdles.

Penthesilea is not a one-way street, however. Rather, it is and remains a constant interaction. An interaction with my extraordinary team as well as an enriching interaction with our participants from all over the world.

In these three years I have been able to share with them new ideas, answers and questions, inspiring “AHA” experiences, worries, sometimes tears, laughter and an overall laser-focused energy and intense time.

All of these are real gifts for me in our fast-paced "music business", allowing me the necessary depth as a musician that sometimes threatens to get lost in the daily grind. Of course, we do all this to create a learning effect in the young musicians, but what I myself was able to learn from this project during this time is priceless. 

"For God's sake, what are you imposing to yourself?" was the sound coming from many corners.

Today I know what I have done to myself:

“I imposed to myself” an unimaginably inspiring team, people with whom I enjoy every day in Ebensee and from whom I was allowed to learn so much!

I have spent hours and hours in front of the laptop organizing concerts that have given me goose bumps and have already secured us a small regular audience that regularly jumps from the pews with enthusiasm at the end.

“I imposed to myself” to be able to choose from a large number of incredibly talented young musicians with whom I would like to work for a week.

“I imposed to myself” to connect with like-minded people and projects who now get to support each other.

Yes, admittedly, I've imposed a lot of work to myself, but this one is ultimately so fulfilling that I want to go on and on and can only encourage you young people who may be reading this to share your "crazy" ideas with similarly crazy people to make this world a little less predictable. 

In 2020 there was a vision, in 2021 it became reality. Since then, the vision has expanded, along with the reality and scope of our masterclass. The vision for 2024 is becoming clearer and clearer: Penthesilea is becoming more of a year-round community than an exclusive week of classes.

The intention, however, has been as crazy as it is unalterable since the beginning: To accompany young musicians on their way to the realization of their dreams by giving them new perspectives, tools and approaches that broaden their view to look further and further beyond their own horizons.

Applications are open on January 1st.

Words from our students: