The following has been adapted from an interview conducted by Michael Albert.

What inspired you to pursue conducting as a profession?

I played trumpet and sang in choirs when I was younger for a few incredibly inspiring conductors who showed me that music can be life-changing. I've sought to share this passion with others ever since.

Who were some of your earliest musical influences?

My earliest and...

The aroma the world's finest coffee wafts onto the streets from the grandiose building that once hosted the central location of Austria's national bank and stock exchange. The opulent interior décor of Vienna's world famous Café Central combined with its sumptuous pastries and beverages makes this traditional coffee house a staple for locals and tourists alike. Vienna is also home to...

The tree-lined Viennese district of Pötzleinsdorf is perhaps best known for its parks, historic villas, and its Heurige (wine taverns). However, savvy art connoisseurs know to visit the residence of Johann Jakob Geymüller, a 19th century banker, on Sunday mornings. Built during the Age of Enlightenment, Geymüller's home is an ornately designed treasure trove of furniture and art from the Biede...

As local summers get hotter, more Viennese are rediscovering the traditional 'Sommerfrische' ('summer freshness') in the form of a summer mountain retreat. Among the most popular spots is Altaussee in Salzkammergut, where families spend their summers plunging into the lake, paddling between mystical Toplitz and Kammersee, Alpine trekking, detoxing with salt treatments at Vivamayr w...

A flaming Danube! Out of all summer solstice events in Austria, the Wachau celebrations are my favourite. To mark the start of summer, on June 22nd, locals light up the hilly vineyards on both sides of the valley with numerous bonfires and rows of torches. Historic ruins such as Duernstein and Hinterhaus are beautifully illuminated by fireworks, and thousands of lights float down the Danube.