Faculty

Olga Watts

Collaborative Pianist / Senior Lecturer in Harpischord⋅Wind, Brass & Percussion Department

Olga Watts is a sought-after specialist in the field of basso continuo. As a harpsichord accompanist, she has performed at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig and several times at the ARD Competition in Munich. She has numerous CD productions and radio recordings to her name. For twelve years, she was an adjunct professor of accompaniment for historical performance practice at the University of Music and Theatre Munich, and has worked as a harpsichord répétiteur at the Mozarteum University since 2010.

Olga Watts completed preliminary studies in piano and musicology at the conservatoire in her hometown, before studying harpsichord, fortepiano and basso continuo with Lars Ulrik Mortensen at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. In 1998 she graduated with distinction, and completed her Artist’s Diploma in 2003. She received further musical impulses through masterclasses with Menno van Delft and Bob van Asperen and collaboration with Reinhard Goebel, Franz Brüggen, Fabio Biondi, John Eliot Gardiner, Thomas Hengelbrock, Konrad Junghänel, Giovanni Antonini, Alessandro de Marchi, Paul McCreesh, Howard Arman, Andreas Scholl, Maurice Steger, Dorothee Oberlinger, Hille Perl, Vittorio Ghielmi and Albrecht Mayer.

In 1997 she was awarded the first prize as a young artist in the field of historical performance practice in Bavaria; she also received two second prizes, with her ensemble Lyriarte, at the competitions for historical instruments "Premio Bonporti" in Rovereto, Italy, and the Johann-Heinrich-Schmelzer-Competition in Melk Abbey, Austria. She has subsequently given concerts as a celebrated soloist and chamber musician in all European countries as well as Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and South Korea. She has appeared as a soloist and chamber music partner at the Rheingau Music Festival, Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, Styriarte, Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, Resonances Vienna, MA Festival Bruges, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Tage Alter Musik Regensburg, Edinburgh International Festival, Lucerne Festival, Dresden Music Festival, Bachwoche Ansbach, Herrenchiemsee and Bad Arolsen Festivals, Berliner Tage der Alten Musik, Tage Alter Musik in Herne, Thuringia Bach Festival, ION Music Festival – Nuremberg, Festival Mitte Europa, Beijing Music Festival and Hong Kong Art Festival.