Anton Mittermayr

Musical director
Timpanist with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Member of the  Wiener Hofmusikkapelle

personal data sheet

Anton Mittermayr was born in 1970 in Oberndorf (Salzburg). In 1982, he started to play the piano, from 1986 onwards, he got organ lessons. From 1988, he got his first percussion lessons at the music school in Linz with Alfred Steindl.

After graduating from high school, he went into teacher training (music and instrumental music) and studied percussion with Prof. Horst Berger and Prof. Kurt Prihoda at the University of Music and Performing Arts.

Even then, during his studies, he gained experience in the most well known orchestras in Austria as a substitute. In December 1995, he started at the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra as a timpanist. Anton Mittermayr is solo timpanist with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra since September 1996 and at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Since September 1999, he is member of the  Verein der Wiener Philharmoniker.

Anton Mittermayr is not only a soloist with various chamber music orchestras (since 2005, he is solo timpanist at the Hofmusikkapelle Wien), he is also working in education and training.

Since 2002, he is teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

Since 2012, he is professor for percussion at the Konservatorium Wien Universityas well as senior lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts.

He also teaches international masterclasses in Japan, the USA, China to name but a few.

In 2003, Anton Mittermayr founded his own company (Wienerpauken Produktions GmbH) which manufactures Viennese timpani.

Helmut Fuchs

Trumpet
Prinzipal trompeter with the Sächsischen Staatskapelle Dresden
personal data sheet

Helmut Fuchs was born in 1984 in Oberndorf (Salzburg). He started to play the trumpet at the age of six at the Musikschulwerk Salzburg with Martin Mühlfellner.  In 2001, he went to study with Igor Oder, who also taught him during his time with the military music in Salzburg (2003-2004).

In 2004, he started to study the trumpet  at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Professor Gottfried Menth. In 2005 he went to study at the University of Music and Performing Arts in  Vienna with Professor Josef Pomberger.

Alexander Mayr

Trumpet

Trumpeter at the State Opera Hannover
personal data sheet

Alexander Mayr was born in Salzburg in 1986. He had trumpet lessons at the Musikum Salzburg, in 2003 he went on a three year course at the Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität with Prof. Josef Eidenberger’s trumpet class. From 2006, he started to study at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Josef Pomberger.

For the past years, Alexander Mayr gained a lot of experience as a substitute with many important orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the Wiener Volksoper Orchestra, the Tonkünstler-Orchestra Niederösterreich, the Brucknerorchestra Linz, the Mozarteumorchestra Salzburg, and the Kärtner Sinfonieorchestra.

After a successful audition in August 2011, Alexander Mayr plays the trumpet at the State Opera Hannover.

Thomas Fleissner

Trumpet
Trumpeter at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt and at the Kärtner Sinfonieorchester.
personal data sheet

Thomas Fleißner was born in 1989 in Schwarzach (Salzburg). From an early age on, he started to play the trumpet. He was very successful – as a soloist as well as with chamber music orchestras. At the competition for young people Prima La Musica, he won several prizes on a regional as well as national competitions.

Since 2009, Thomas Fleißner studies trumpet, since 2011 instrumental education for trumpet at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Josef Pomberger and MMag. Mühlfellner. His teacher is also MMag. Bernhard Proebner, member of phil Blech Wien as well as Hans Peter Schuh, member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Even in the beginning of his studies, Thomas Fleißner was a substitute for renowned orchestras, e.g. Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tonkünstler Orchestra Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), Orchestra of the Wiener VolksoperWiener Hofmusikkapelle as well for the Vienna Chamber Orchestra.

Since 2012 he plays the trumpet at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt and at the Kärtner Sinfonieorchester.

Stefan Fleissner

Trompet
Trompeter at the State Opera Hannover

personal data sheet

Stefan Fleißner, born in 1990 in Schwarzach (Pongau, Salzburg), had his first trumpet lessons at the Musikum in St.Johann with Markus Pronebner. Since 2009, he studies trumpet with Prof. Josef Pomberger, since 2011 he also studies instrumental education, both at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), with Prof. Josef Pomberger, since 2012 with Prof. Johann Plank.

Stefan Fleißner has gained experience in many famous orchestras as a substitute: Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), with the Wiener Philharmonikern (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), with the Bühnenorchester der Wiener Staats – und Volksoper ( Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera and Volksopera), with the Wiener Symphonikern (Vienna Symphony Orchestra), with the Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich (Tonkünstler Orchestra Lower Austria), with the Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien (Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna), with the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle (Vienna Imperial Court Music Ensemble), at the summer academy (Wiener Philharmoniker), at the Orchester der Volksoper Wien (Volksoper Orchestra) , at the Kammerorchester Wien (Chamber Orchestra Vienna).

Lars Michael Stransky

Viennese Horn
Hornist with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, member of the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle
personal data sheet

Lars Michael Stransky, born in 1966 in Trier (Germany), had his first horn lessons in 1977 with Erik Einecke in Ludwigshafen. Between 1983 and 1985, he studied horn with Prof. Erich Penzel at the College of Music in Cologne and won the music contest for young people, Jugend musiziert, twiceHe also won the first prize at the international competition called Concerto Competition in the USA. Between 1991 and 1993, he studied horn at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Roland Berger.

Even during as well as after his studies, Lars Michael Stransky played principal horn in famous orchestras:  Bundesjugendorchester Deutschland (1982–1984), in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra (1984), in the Radio-Symphony-Orchestra Berlin (1985–1986) and at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (1986–1993).

Since 1993, Lars Michael Stransky is principal hornist at the Vienna State Operaand with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to that he is member of the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle.

Apart from playing with various orchestras, he has also many solo performances, e.g. with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, CD recordings and played in numerous chamber music projects. He played the horn concerto No.1, op. 11 by Richard Strauss as a soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under André Previn. (Deutsche Grammophon 1997).

Wolfgang Lintner

Viennese Horn
Hornist with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and with the ViennaPhilharmonic Orchestra.
personal data sheet

Wolfgang Lintner was born in Vienna in 1969. At the age of five he had piano lessons, at the age of twelfe, he had his first horn lessons. In the beginning, he had private teachers but then he studied at the College of Music in Vienna with Prof. Friedrich Gabler and Willibald Janezic.

He finished his studies with honours and was awarded the degree Master of Arts. In addition to that he attended several master classes, e.g. with Hermann Baumann.

From 1995, Wolfgang Lintner, has been working as permanent substitute with well-known Austrian orchestras. Between 1995 and 2006 he was also hornist with the Bühnenorchester of of the Wiener Staatsoper .

Since 2006 he is permanent member with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra. In 2009, he was accepted with the Vienna Philharmonic.

Wolfgang Lintner ist a sought after soloist as well as chamber music musician and tours regularly with known national and international ensembles in Europe and Asia.

Andreas Eitzinger

Trombone
Principal trombone with the Tonkünstler-Orchestra Niederösterreich
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Andreas Eitzinger, born 1982 in Vöcklabruck (Upper Austria) studied trombone at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz with Prof. Josef Kürner. Even during his studies, he won many prizes, e.g., at the competition Gradus ad Parnassum(2004) or the Anton Bruckner Förderpreis der  Wiener Symphoniker (2006)

Andreas Eitzinger was also a substitute with the most renowned orchestras in Austria, e.g. Wiener Staatsoper OrchestraOrchestra of the Volksoper in Vienna, with the Brucknerorchestra Linz and the Mozarteumorchestra Salzburg.

Since May 2006, he is also solo trombone player with the Tonkünstler – Orchestera Niederösterreich (Lower Austria). Andreas Eitzinger is soloist as well as musician in ensembles.

He is member of following ensembles, just to name a few: PRO BRASS, Theophil Ensemble Wien, Trombproject, Horny Strings, Blechhaufn, Percussive Planet. Until now he has been playing with the Tonkünstler Orchestra, the Jugendsinfonieorchester Oberösterreich (Upper Austria), the Kleinem Orchester Wien etc..

Since September 2012, he is professor at the Joseph Haydn Konversatorium in Eisenstadt (Burgenland).

Wolfgang Strasser

Trombone
Principal trombone player with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
personal data sheet

Wolfgang Strasser, born in 1968, had his first private tenor horn lessons at the age of ten. At the age of fourteen, he started to play the trombone and attended the Konservatorium Wien University from September 1984. He studied with Helmut Ascherl and Herbert Mosheimer and completed his studies in June 1991 with distinction. Wolfgang Strasser also attended master classes with Branimir Slokar and took some classes with Dietmar Küblböck at the University of Musicolgy in Vienna.

Since November 1991 Wolfgang Strasser plays solo trombone with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO) Vienna. He went into teaching in September 2004 at a highschool (BORG Mistelbach) and at the Musikschulverband Staatz in the lovely Weinviertel in Lower Austria, where he comes from. SinceOctober 2011, he is professor for trombone at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. From September 2013 on, he will be member of the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestraand of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Wolfgang Strasser doesn‘t only with various orchestras and teaches, he is also soloist (ORF RSO , Haydnorchestra Eisenstadt, Concilium Musicum Wien, Bläserphilharmonie Niederösterreich) and plays in chamber music ensembles (Die Reihe, Kontrapunkte). With his chamber music ensembles he plays chamber music of the 20th and 21st century.

The Wiener Posaunen Ensemble and the ensemble phil Blech Wien are the most important formations at the moment for Wolfgang Strasser who wants to develop as a trombone player and musician and who tries to establish his musical views and ambitions.

Mark Gaal

Basstrombone
Bass trombone player with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Member of the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle.
personal data sheet

Mark Gaal was born 1978 in Vienna but grew up in Oberwart (Burgenland). At the age of seven, he had tenor horn lessons at the local music school in Oberwart with Gerhard Imre. Later, he had trombone lessons. In 1992, he started his studies at the Institute Oberschützen of the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz with Erik Hainzl and graduated with distinction in 2000. In addition to his studies, he also attended various master classes and seminars with Dietmar Küblböck, Otmar Gaiswinkler, Joseph Alessi or Carsten Svanberg.

Even during his studies, he had concerts and tours with renowned Viennese orchestras.

In 2001, Mark Gaal was accepted with the Tonkünstler – Orchestra Niederösterreich and after another successful audition in 2002, he plays at the orchestra of the Volksoper in Vienna . In September 2007, he started to play the rotary valve trumpet at the Wiener Staatsoper and with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2012, he plays bass trombone at the orchestra, in the same year, he was accepted with the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle as a tenor trombone player.

Apart from that, Mark Gaal is founding member of phil Blech Wien, member of the Wiener Posaunen Ensemble (Vienna Trombone Ensemble) and worked with the Wiener KammerOrchester, the ensemble xx jahrhundert, the Ensemble Kontrapunkte, the Clemencic Consort as well as the Pro Bass. In addition to that, he also is member of various jazz bands, e.g. Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna or the Gerd Hermann Ortler Orchestra.

He also very successfully arranged music for numerous brass bands.

Since 2007, he is also teaching. He is lecturer for trombone at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He was invited to hold master classes and for teaching in Japan. In 2013, he is lecturer at the Pacific Music Festival (PMF) in Sapporo.

Benjamin Schmidinger

Timpani
Pecussionist with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestera
personal data sheet

Benjamin Schmidinger was born in 1980 in Vienna. He started his musical career in 1988 as a member of the Vienna Boys‘ Choir. During his time there he had his first drum lessons with his father, Prof. Rudolf Schmidinger, former member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1994, he started his academic education in percussion at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Prof. Horst Berge and Prof. Kurt Prihoda. Later he studied there with Prof. Gerhard Windbacher.

Between 1998 and 2002, he was a student with Prof. Roland Altmann, between 2002 and 2006 with Prof. Josef Gumpinger at the Konservatorium Wien University.

Even during his time at university and before his engagement with the Orchestra of the Staatsoper in Vienna in 2006, he gained experience as a substitute with the most renowned orchestras in Austria. Since 2009, he is member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Benjamin Schmidinger doesn’t only play with orchestras, he also plays regularly as a soloist with chamber music formations (e.g. Wiener VirtuosenWiener-Concert Verein, Ensemble Kontrapunkte and the percussion ensemble The Rhythmania Artists). He is founding member of phil Blech Wien , for Schmidinger the most important chamber music project at the moment.

Peter Dullnig

Percussion
Percussionist with the Orchestra of the Wiener Volksoper
personal data sheet

Peter Dulling was born in Villach in 1979 and grew up near Spittal/Drau, in Carinthia. At the age of eight, he had his first percussion lessons at the local music school. After graduation from high school in Spittal, he was member of the Militärmusik Salzburg. At the same time, he had percussion lessons at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts Mozarteum Salzburg with Martin Grubinger sen. . After his military service, he went to the Konservatorium Wien University in 1999, where he studied with Prof. Gerhard Windbacher and Prof. Roland Altmann. In 2001, he continued his studies with Prof. Windbacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

He also took various master classes e.g. with Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic (Marimba), Berndt Thurner (Marimba, Percussion), Reinhard Toriser (Orchestra), or Bruno Castellucci (drumset).

During his studies, Peter Dullnig already gained experience with orchestras as subsitute in the most renowned orchestras in Austria. Since 2002, he is permanent substitute with the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra . In 2009, he got his post with the Orchestra of the Volksoper Wien. Apart from playing with orchestras, Peter Dullnig gives concerts as a soloist as well as with chamber music ensembles (Wiener KammerOrchester, Wiener Kammerphilharmonie, Ensemble Kontrapunkte etc.).