THE CLUB

ACADEMIA VOCALIS

International summer vocal seminar Wörgl/Tirol

Since its initiation 37 years ago, several music lovers came together to realize a musical dream. The idea was to found an academy to assist young vocal students on their quest for musical education and fulfillment.

But musical education was not to be the sole target. The seminar participants should also be offered a platform to present themselves to a regional audience.

Thus, the Academia Vocalis was born.

A wide range of vocal seminars, spanning all fields from jazz to musical to classical music, from Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong to Mozart, were offered from the start. From the beginning, this vision was blessed with overwhelming success - the club can look back on years of fruitful musical activity.

For 37 years now, up to 120 students from every corner of the globe have populated the streets of the Tyrolean Unterland each year. As an educational seminar, the Academia Vocalis has helped young and budding artists from all over the world in honing their vocal skills in the fields of opera, operetta, song, oratory, jazz, latin jazz, and last but not least, gospel. In addition, the seminar participants can flaunt their talent and newly acquired knowledge in front of appreciative audiences during concerts which finalize nearly every seminar.

Our outstanding quality: Internationally renowned vocal instructors 

The quality of the seminar leaders, internationally renowned personalities. We fondly remember the lovable Prof. Dr. Erik Werba, the unforgettable opera divas KS Prof. Sylvia Geszty, KS Giulietta Simionato, Prof. Fedora Barbieri, KS Prof. Christa Ludwig, KS Mirella Freni, or to Prof. Kurt Widmer, KS Prof. Francisco Araiza, KS Brigitte Fassbaender, KS Grace Bumbry, KS Helen Donath and KS Anna Tomowa-Sintow, the "Prima donna assoluta" Edita Gruberová, who sadly passed away three years ago, as well as Prof. Juliane Banse, KS Robert Holl, who brought and continue to bring the flair of great opera houses to the Tyrolean Unterland. Or Prof. Christoph Prégardien, who is once again offering a master class this year. Not forgetting, of course, KS Prof. Hans Hotter, KS Prof. Walter Berry and KS Prof. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, whose mere presence seemed to impart knowledge. And the jazz musicians: the special features of Academia Vocalis are not just external, they also lie in the international greats such as Timna Brauer, Linda Sharrock, Wolfgang Puschnig as well as the New York soul man James Smith and the Brazilian whirlwind Diana Miranda have always guaranteed full seminars and inspiring concerts. Our exceptional pedagogue and "perennial favorite" Prof. Karlheinz Hanser, Dean of the mdw Vienna & team have been inspiring students from all over Europe and the world for years now with two fixed master classes every year and guarantee the highest level of quality.

Not to be forgotten is the intensive children's and youth work of Academia Vocalis, which has been carried out for decades and takes place in a great youth and children's opera workshop under the professional leadership of director Norbert Mladek and his team. Some outstanding productions, singspiels and children's operas have already emerged from this over the last few decades.

These are large-scale projects that are realized every five to six years on a special theme, with a written libretto and an accompanying composition - ideally by a Tyrolean composer. These productions usually extend over a period of two years during which intensive rehearsals, dancing, acting and performing take place and are ultimately presented to the audience in the form of performances.

Ms. Maria Knoll-Madersbacher hands over the baton to our great and proven director and youth representative Norbert Mladek, who will continue the children's and youth work. This was her last major production as part of Academia Vocalis. Maria Knoll-Madersbacher will certainly be thanked for her decades of work with children and young people, and the Academia Vocalis team would like to thank her from the bottom of their hearts!

Sadly, Maria Knoll-Madersbacher, the great, committed idea generator and founding member, passed away in January 2024, but her legacy - to continue and maintain the Children's & Youth Academy - will of course continue to be honoured!

We are already looking forward to many new and exciting masterclasses and concerts in 2025!