Ceremonial Inauguration of Constanze Wimmer and Her Team

An audible chuckle rippled through the packed Max Schlereth Hall when Constanze Wimmer opened her inaugural address with an anecdote from the Mirabell Gardens. A tour guide had told a group of tourists that the building was not a university but a conservatoire where students learnt to play an instrument. Wimmer used the story to make a broader point: what else would she have told the visitors?

“That music is our foundation, but it doesn’t stop there. Since 1920, it has also been possible to study drama here; since 1976, we have offered teacher training in the visual arts, encompassing a wide range of artistic practices; and since 2025, we have offered a degree programme that no longer fits into any single artistic category: Open Arts […] With its latest appointments, the Mozarteum University has demonstrated the dynamism that characterises this institution, how closely our artistic practice is connected to the international cultural scene and how we are setting an example by investing in the future of art, not least through the X-Reality Lab, which has recently become fully operational.”

A musicologist with a PhD and an established cultural manager, Constanze Wimmer served as Vice-Rector of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz from 2020 until March 2026. She now leads the Mozarteum University in Salzburg together with her newly appointed management team: Karin Skarek (Resources), Helmut Schaumberger (Academic Affairs), Eugen Banauch (Research and Digitalisation) and Hannfried Lucke (Art). The theme ‘Side by Side’ ran throughout the inauguration ceremony, not least in its striking visual presentation: an impressive stage design by Florentine Klepper and Carola Reuther incorporated the Solitär’s distinctive red audience chairs, while the event technology team brought the setting to life.

“I have chosen ‘Side by Side’ as the theme for this inauguration ceremony because my experiences to date in the worlds of culture and academia have made one thing particularly clear to me: our inner strength and depth in the arts come from each and every one of us. They mature individually over years and decades, through solitary practice on an instrument or through unique visual and physical exploration, but they can only come to fruition when we share them with others. […] Culture is a social practice which, at international festivals just as much as in the independent arts scene, is shaped by far more perspectives than artistic performance alone.”

Alongside the formal speeches, the symbolic handover of the rector’s chain by its previous holder, Elisabeth Gutjahr, and words of welcome from political representatives and university bodies, the ceremony was marked by a strong sense of solidarity across artistic disciplines. This was reflected not only in Wimmer’s inaugural address but also in the programme of performances by students and lecturers, which showcased the full range of artistic practice at the University. The contributions ranged from a spirited opening by the brass ensemble and an integration-focused performance by the Nava Ensemble to the exuberant, Jandl-inspired performance ICH BIN KUNST by the Thomas Bernhard Institute. Historical performance practice met laid-back jazz in a programme that paired Mozart’s Adagio & Molto presto from K. 358, performed by Florian Birsak and Juliane Sophie Ritzmann on the fortepiano, with music by the Mellow Ensemble. The ARCOENSEMBLE for contemporary music presented three world premieres by composers Aurélie Ferrière, Tímea Urban and Raimonda Žiūkaitė. Meanwhile, works by students of scenography and the Department of Art & Design transformed the hall into an atmospheric exhibition space.

Wimmer also emphasised that culture must be understood as a social practice that actively engages with differences, particularly in the face of wider societal challenges – including the budget cuts currently being planned by the Austrian Federal Government. The Mozarteum University sees itself as an ‘international space for thought’ with a responsibility to strengthen democracy and its resilience. This ambition is set to take further shape through the planned Art & Culture Lab. The ceremony drew to a close with a quiet, moving moment: cellist Jeremias Luther performed Bach’s Gigue, offering a personal musical expression of the idea of ‘Side by Side’.

At the festive reception that followed in the foyer, guests raised a glass to the successful future of the University – and to the Rector’s hope that, one day, city guides will proudly tell their visitors: “This is where the very best in their fields study, conduct research and teach. This university is about nothing less than how we, as human beings, can live together harmoniously.”