Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, 2021 @VedranMetelko My formal training began in Vienna, where I graduated with distinction from the Music and Arts University, studying orchestral conducting and harpsichord performance, during which I served as a choir member of the historic Wiener Singverein and Wiener Singakademie and performed with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra, and Vienna Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of luminary conductors before being selected as a scholarship holder at the Ensemble Modern Academy in Frankfurt, where my passion for modern and contemporary music blossomed. I was previously engaged as assistant conductor at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt in Austria, contributing to the premiere of Salvatore Sciarrino's opera Il canto s'attrista perché?, and later appointed as lecturer for contemporary music performance practice and conducting ensembles at the University of Music and Theatre in Hamburg. These experiences deepened my commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary music and led to numerous opportunities for growth and recognition.
@NedaNavaeeThe journey from my early years in Tehran, where I received private lessons in piano, music theory, and composition, to the international opportunities that followed, has been long and transformative. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of the individuals and institutions that believed in me. I am profoundly grateful for their trust. In 2015, I was the recipient of the “Start-Stipendium” from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture, recognizing young successful artists in Austria. From 2017 to 2019, the Ulysses Network and IRCAM artistic committee in France identified me as a promising young conductor. During this time, I was also selected as a winner and finalist of “Das Kritische Orchestra” by the Dirigentenforum and Deutsche Musikrat, and I was selected as a resident conductor at the European Network of Opera Academies and the Academy of Festival d’Aix-en-Provence in 2019. I was further privileged to receive a doctoral research fellowship, Pro-Exzellenzia Plus, from the city of Hamburg and the European Social Fund. This initiative, which seeks to elevate women in leadership roles, has been pivotal in shaping my commitment to advancing gender equality in our field. As co-founder of the WE:Shape community in Vienna during the Corona pandemic time, I have been passionate about raising awareness of the lack of diversity in the European classical music scene. We actively engaged in discussions on the critical absence of BIPOC artists in leadership and decision-making positions, striving for a more inclusive future for the arts.
Sinfonia Varsovia, 2023 @Grzesiek Mart