Ready for Brixen

These are Carinthia’s prima la musica winners!

Practice makes perfect - and diligence is rewarded: Mia Missbichler, Stefan Wiesflecker, Maria Spiehs, Yaroslava Sinkevich and Marie Wiesflecker, who is traveling to South Tyrol with the best, are on the podium.(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

That was a record! 88 musicians aged ten and over represent Carinthia at the national competition in Brixen (South Tyrol) 

A full hall in the Klagenfurt Concert Hall and thunderous cheers: many of the 283 young musicians from the province's music schools who demonstrated their skills on stage at the "prima la musica" competition in Ossiach received their certificates on Sunday.

88 boys and girls, including 15 gold medal winners in the highest evaluation group, will represent Carinthia at the national competition, which will take place in Brixen (South Tyrol) from mid-May. 62 musicians won a 1st prize with distinction, 94 a 1st prize. 26 were honored with a 2nd prize, four times a third prize was awarded.

Ensemble Tauernklang is also among the elite and will be competing for a win in Brixen: "We come from Mölltal and are delighted to be taking part."(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

The ensemble Power Percussion really heated up the Great Hall. The trio - Aaron Ogris, Anastazja Piotrowicz and Lukas Hofer - will be taking part in the national competition.(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

Manager Johann Brunner, Lisa Leitich with the Windspiel ensemble (left): "We're looking forward to the national competition".(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

Practice makes perfect - and diligence is rewarded: Mia Missbichler, Stefan Wiesflecker, Maria Spiehs, Yaroslava Sinkevich (1st prize with distinction) and Marie Wiesflecker, who is going to South Tyrol with the best.(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

On the podium at the prima la musica competition: 1st prize for Linda Jelinek (left). Kilian Jereb, Jurij Filipič and Alexander Stöckl will also be in Brixen.(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

The Clarisax ensemble from Mölltal - Hannah Pußnig, Lea Pichler, Elena Noisternig and Emma Ampferthaler - is also a regional winner and will take part in the competition in Brixen.(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

Gold for Raschelle Ritt (left), who, like her sister Nathania (right) and Leonidas Ruhdorfer, will represent Carinthia at the national competition: "It's going to be cool!"(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

Proud of the talents: Music school director Gernot Ogris and provincial councillor Daniel Fellner(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

Gold medal winners: cellist Maximilian Kolloros (left) and singer Marie Gruber have a good chance of winning the national competition. Accordion player Gabriel Grascher, who could also be heard in the Konzerthaus, was also on the podium.(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

"Your performances are getting better every year and the line-ups are getting more and more creative. You are great!" said Johann Brunner, Federal Youth Advisory Board member for music. The boys and girls were so cheered in the Great Hall that the whole concert hall shook.

"It makes me very proud to be here. I was three years old when I started playing the violin," says Lorea Mimura (12). She is also going to South Tyrol. The youngest prizewinner on the big stage was accordionist Gabriel Grascher. He played the piece Burg Schreckenstein. Because of his height, he had to sit on a lemonade crate. He also entertained the audience with his grimaces to match the play.

"Austria-wide success story"
"The best reward is to witness the joy of the award winners," said manager Lisa Leitich. GMPU Rector Roland Streiner speaks of a demonstration of ability: "So many young talents. Many of them are part of the Cluster of Excellence, with which we are now writing a success story throughout Austria." Provincial Councillor Daniel Fellner: "What you have achieved has been combined with passion and motivation."