How it all started
The Music in the Alps (MITA) is a U.S.-based organization founded in 2013 by internationally acclaimed classical pianist Dr. Irena Portenko to promote young musicians’ careers and give them multiple opportunities to flourish in a versatile world of music.
One of the major summer events held in Bad Gastein and now in Salzburg, Austria, MITA offers an annual performance series as well as an educational program, bringing together International Artists, music professors, and students for a three week program of classical and jazz performances, master classes and a competition for instrumentalists and singers in Europe's greatest mountain range. MITA is now a member of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fiscal Sponsorship Program, allowing international sponsorship opportunities to U.S. companies and individuals seeking to make a U.S. tax-deductible contribution in support of the program, its artists, and students. MITA is proud of its U.S. partnerships with Blue Griffin, Inc. for broadcasting the festival, and with the Concert Festival Organization for inviting Concerto-Aria competition winners to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Music in the Alps Music Institute and International Festival is a music festival and master course organized by Music in the Alps Plus LLC.
Locations
Visiting Austria is an inspirational experience for any traveler. Breathtaking landscapes, bright-colored nature, snowy mountain peaks, urban elegance and rural picturesqueness create vivid unforgettable memories for both globe trotter and beginner explorer. However, there is a magic, that exist naturally and seems to follow you everywhere in this beautiful country-it is music. You can see it in dancing falling leaves; hear it roar with dashing waterfalls and recognize it in harmonies, created by choruses of winds high up in the snowy Alps.
Guests of “Music in the Alps” Festival come back again to spend time with our international artists, travel with us and make new friends. Because the bond through music and nature is very strong, our alumni keep in touch personally and support each other’s ideas and projects.The 2020 Festival, that will take place in Salzburg, Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein from August 4 - 16th offers colorful kaleidoscope of adventures for your Austrian experience rested, enriched and inspired.
Bad Gastein is known to be elegant and enigmatic, holding magic not only at any season, but also at any day and night place. Situated on the slopes of a horse-shoe mountains with its center divided by a powerful waterfall is a true celebration of nature. With its healing thermal pools, clean air and water, it has been a long-time destination for its many visitors in the past: Schubert, Mann, Einstein, Toscanini among others. Many participants and guests of Bad Gastein discover its positively powerful, meditative and inspirational affect on them, that lasts for a long time.
Salzburg is legendary Mozart’s birthplace, that witnessed his first steps toward big musical career. It is a destination to hundreds thousands of tourists from all over the world, a place of establishment Salzburg International Music Festival and, for those, who learned “Do, Re, Mi” though famous song from “Sound of Music”-there is a Mirabel Palace and Gardens, where young Julia Andrews once charmed so many hearts. “Music in the Alps” is proud to be presenting its program in Marmursaal of Miracle Palace. It is very symbolic for young musicians to be performing in this beaut
Bad Hofgastein a neighboring to Bad Gastein town, a gem of Gastein Valley, cradled by gentle giant green slopes, beautiful and cozy, living its energetic life with a very active touristic turnaround and a variety of cultural events. “Music in the Alps” is excited to present its concerts in famous Kursaal and Weitmoser Schlössl.
Facilities for practicing
At the Music School in Bad Gastein, in neighboring Bad Hofgastein, at Villa Excelsior, and at the Hotel Elisabethpark, students will be able to use these rooms for lessons, rehearsals, and work on their presentations alone or with their peers in a quiet environment.
Students enjoy an opportunity to focus on their lessons, to rehearse with their peers, and to work on their presentation projects in a quiet environment.
Activities
Students, faculty, and guest artists all stay together at the Hotel Elisabethpark in Bad Gastein, which has become a second home for many returning participants to the festival. Several leisure activities are planned to encourage the participants to get to know one another, including hiking, a carriage ride through Passau National Park, visiting local festivals, and an evening of 19th century ballroom dancing with an orchestra, under the direction of late Maestro Pauss. A particular highlight is an excursion to Salzburg to attend a performance at the legendary Salzburg Music Festival. In 2018, participants attended a concert by the Wien Philharmonia, led by Essa-Pekka Salonen, solo performances by pianists Grigory Sokolov and Evgeny Kissin, and a rare staging of Monteverdi’s opera L’Incoronazzione di Poppea.
After specially structured blocks of practicing and performing, both professors and students take time to relax and explore the magnificent beauty of Bad Gastein and its surrounding area. Here are some activities that the attendees have enjoyed in the past:
Excursion to Salzburg
Attending selected performances during renowned Salzburg International Music Festival
Half-day hiking trip
Horse-carriage ride to the Passau National Park
Visiting Austrian holiday celebrations, local festivals and, even a real 19-century style ball-room dancing evening with the orchestra from Salzburg, playing waltzes, polkas, marches etc
Zip-Line "Flying Waters" in Bad Gastein, Austria. http://www.gasteinertal.com/flying-fox-wasserfall/
Bad Gastein Summer on top of the mountains; by Gastein Tourismbaord
Keeping in close contact with the Bureau of Tourism, this is a great learning opportunity to know more about people, their local traditions, music, food, dancing as well as the social activities.