Barbara Mayer
Works by Barbara Mayer
Biography
Barbara Mayer is a highly versatile artist with unique talents for piano, composition, and improvisation in a variety of styles. Moreover, Barbara revels in playing the works of seldom-performed composers (particularly from those dating from 19th century onwards) and is passionate about interdisciplinary projects.
A young artist, Barbara was born in Schwabmünchen, Germany, receiving her first piano lessons at the age of 5. By the age of 14, she made her piano debut in the “Concert for Young Talents of the Region of Augsburg”, performing Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s Piano Concerto n. 1. Her performance was broadcast by Augsburg TV.
Barbara went on to pursue her musical studies in composition and piano at the prestigious Mozarteum Salzburg and Anton-Bruckner-Universität Linz, where she studied with renowned Professors such as Adriana Hölszky and Margit Haider-Dechant. Barbara attended the Escola Superior de Música in Lisbon with an OEAD scholarship. She undertook musicological research abroad at the Instituto Moreira Salles in Rio with the support of the Austrian Ministry for Culture and attended the Bayreuth Festival with an International Richard Wagner Foundation scholarship. Her international concert series with contemporary music “Internationale Metamorphosen” is currently supported by the Jeanne d`Art Foundation.
Barbara has since continued her artistic development through numerous masterclasses, taught by highly acclaimed artists such as Anatol Ugorsky, Alexander Jenner, Filippo Faes and Roger Muraro.
In 2010, the Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra commissioned her to compose a piano concerto inspired by themes of Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde”. Her project culminated with the premiere of her concerto “Tristanesk”, performed by Mayer herself and the Augsburg Philharmonics in 2011.
After completing her Master studies with the highest honours, Barbara has recently received her PhD in Musicology at Mozarteum with an outstanding final grade. Her PhD thesis on Brazil`s multiethnic influences in the works of the composer Hekel Tavares (1896-1969) has already been published by the renowned Springer publishing company.
Barbara Mayer has received the following awards to date:
- First female winner of the Young Artists’ Award for Composition of the City of Augsburg in their 50 years of history. The jury remarked the following: Barbara Mayer shows an astounding professionalism in her compositions, and proves to have the necessary confidence to sucessfully navigate the current state of affairs in composition. She effortlessly combines structural clarity with a wide range of subtle tonalities, creating great atmospheric density as well as intense, sensuous sound experiences. In her work she succeds in reconciling elements percieved as irreconciliable, and bridges the gaps between styles and genres, bursting with ideas and expressivity. Her eagerness to experiment shows her outstanding talent to integrate non-musical methods and elements. We foresee a sensational artistic career ahead of her.
- Laureate in the Mozarteum String Quartet Composition winning a performance of her string quartet by the renowned Austrian Ensemble for Contemporary Music (OENM)
- First prize winner (Piano) in the International Music Competition Paul Harris, Verbania/Italy (associated with a masterclass taught by Konstantin Bogino, Milan),
- Multiple first prize winner in the Ibla Grand Prize World Music Competition, Ragusa/New York both in Piano and Composition sections, and
- Special Distinction for her interpretation of her composition "Rigoletto im Spiegelland" receiving personal congratulations from Maestro Marcello Abbado. This composition was selected for its potential performance in Carnegie Hall during the winners` concert tour.
Her numerous concerts, musicological activities and commissioned works further highlight her excellence in her musical career, having composed for the Augsburg Philharmonics, the Summer Academy Prachatice in the Czech Republic, and the Edition Apollon Musikoffizin in Bonn. She has performed her own compositions across various countries, including Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Brazil. Barbara has performed in numerous festivals, like the Young Generation Festival of ZKM Karlsruhe in Germany, the Festival-Estival Annecy in France, and the International Concert Series "Klangfarben der Orgel" in Salzburg. Some performance highlights include prestigious venues, such as the Mozarteum Wiener Saal and the Gasteig in Munich.
Barbara is represented by the renowned American artist management "Price Attractions".