A Celebration of Mozart and Austrian History

 

At the Frederick R. Koch Foundation of Austria, our enduring mission is to cultivate spaces where artistic excellence and inspiration are not merely encouraged but brought vividly to life. On August 10th, that vision filled the halls of Schloss Blühnbach during a remarkable chamber music concert that united alumni of the Mozarteum University in an afternoon aglow with virtuosity, camaraderie, and creativity.

 

This exceptional all-Mozart program was made possible through a close collaboration with the International Mozarteum Foundation, whose partnership brought together three distinguished alumni: Andreas Siles Mellinger (violin), Sophie Druml (piano), and Simon Tetzlaff (cello). Their artistry was elevated by a moment of extraordinary historic resonance: thanks to the Mozarteum Foundation’s generosity, one of the performers had the rare honour of playing on W. A. Mozart’s own violin, on loan from the Mozart Museum in Salzburg. Hearing Mozart’s music performed on his personal instrument, within the grandeur of Schloss Blühnbach, infused the afternoon with a sense of authenticity and immediacy that deeply moved artists and audience alike.

 

The audience, a mosaic of Foundation patrons, Mozarteum alumni, and local music lovers, listened with rapt attention, their enthusiastic applause a testament to the profound intimacy and power of chamber music in such a setting. The resounding success of this event has already inspired plans for future concerts at Schloss Blühnbach, whose timeless beauty offers the ideal backdrop for encounters where music and history meet.

 

With each concert, the Frederick R. Koch Foundation renews its promise: to nurture not only the individual musician, but also the bonds of mentorship and collaboration that sustain the arts across generations. Every gathering at Schloss Blühnbach weaves another thread into Austria’s cultural fabric, enriching the legacy of creativity and excellence that Frederick R. Koch so passionately championed.

 

The Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the International Mozarteum Foundation for its dedicated partnership, to the gifted performers for their artistry, and to all who joined us in celebration. None of this would be possible without Frederick R. Koch’s vision and generosity, his devotion both to the historic preservation of Schloss Blühnbach and to the advancement of the arts. Thanks to his legacy, the castle today stands not only as a historic landmark, but also as a welcoming cultural home for creativity, community, and inspiration.

 

To learn more about Schloss Blühnbach and its remarkable history, please visit: https://www.bluhnbach.at/about

To learn more about the International Mozarteum Foundation, please visit: https://mozarteum.at/en/home