News

Mental health issues, loneliness and an ageing population present Europe with major social challenges. At the same time, numerous studies show that art and culture can enhance mental wellbeing, foster social cohesion and increase the resilience of communities. The aim is for this potential to play a much greater role in future European health strategies.

A conversation with Bavarian soprano and Mozart specialist Teresa Boning about the high notes in *The Magic Flute* that led her to contemporary music, her work with street children in Costa Rica—which further strengthened her desire to study singing—and the influence of singing on psychiatric conditions.

The Mozarteum University Salzburg warmly congratulates all graduates who celebrated their achievement at the ceremony on June 16th 2026 in the Solitär.

The Theodor Körner Fund was established in 1953 by the Vienna Chamber of Labour to mark the 80th birthday of Austria’s then Federal President, Theodor Körner. Since its founding, the Fund has supported outstanding achievements across a wide range of disciplines. The awards are presented annually at a ceremony held at the Vienna Chamber of Labour’s Education Centre and are traditionally conferred by the Chair of the Board of Trustees together with the President of Austria.

Elisabeth Gutjahr, former president of the Mozarteum University, was awarded the State Medal of Honor for her work as a driving force for culture and scholarship in Salzburg. She was the first female president of the Mozarteum University, which she led from April 2018 to March 2026. We extend our warmest congratulations!

How can Mozarteum University become a “living room for Salzburg”? In her first article for the Salzburger Nachrichten university news section (published on 6 June 2026), Rector Constanze Wimmer reflects on the university as an open space for encounter, exchange, and cultural participation. Read on to discover why art is more than mere consumption, what role “third places” play in our democracy, and how the Mozarteum aims to bring people together in conversation.

The commissioning of a "European Symphony" marks the start of a wide-ranging research project that combines digital technology and classical music in a new way: Musicians in 12 different locations will use innovative technology to overcome physical distances and perform a joint concert for symphony orchestra and large chorus. The Mozarteum University is also contributing to the project, in the form of a choir.

On 23 June, the Opera Studies Department at the Mozarteum University Salzburg will celebrate the world premiere of Agamemnon (Musical Director: Gernot Sahler; Director: Alexander von Pfeil). The commissioned work was created by the young Slovenian composer Vid Ožbolt, who is currently studying composition with Sarah Nemtsov. In a conversation with the composer and with set and costume designer Laura Trilsam, a student in the Department of Scenography, we take a look behind the scenes and at the creative process behind the production.

The Strings Department at Mozarteum University Salzburg is celebrating the success of its outstanding young musicians. As part of its long-standing internal competition programme, prizes were awarded at this year's Concorso Hindemith (viola) and Concorso Mainardi (cello).

The fifth event in the “Salzburg Universities Development Initiatives” series focused on a topic that, according to experts, will bring about more change than AI applications: quantum physics and quantum technologies. A panel of high-profile experts from academia and industry discussed the potential of quantum-based technologies – and the profound changes and transformations they are likely to bring about for us as a society in the future.

It's that time of year again! Mozarteum University Salzburg warmly invites its alumni and emeriti to a drinks reception on 23 June 2026 at 5.30 pm, followed by a performance of the opera "Agamemnon".