In Toblach, the Mahler Academy presents another ambitious project that marks a decisive step towards an audience outside the traditional “classical clientele.” The orchestra invites eight young people from the tour locations to come to Toblach and accompany the orchestra’s rehearsal phase. These eight young people are the Mahler Ambassadors. They are between 18 and 23 years old, and while they share passions such as dance, hip hop, literature, poetry, or activism, they have had little access to classical music so far.

For these eight ambassadors, eight seats will be reserved among the orchestra rows. What they will have seen and heard will then be discussed with the project coordinator, Matthieu Stepec, who during some workshops will help them understand the elements of musical composition and form, to orient themselves in listening to classical music. In addition, they will attend evening lectures that will address various themes related to the composer and his environment.
Supported by a social media manager, they will transform impressions and sensations into content to be published and shared with the orchestra members and host institutions. During the residency, the ambassadors will also have meetings with the conductor and groups of musicians, as well as with the sound technician who will handle the technical aspects of the recording for Alpha Classics.
The Ambassadors will also sit in the orchestra during the performance in Dobbiaco on September 8, where they can finally listen to the symphony with the knowledge of what they learned during the preparation. Back in their home cities, the ambassadors will be guests at the concerts of the Mahler Academy Orchestra. Here they will be able to invite friends and family to the presentation, providing them with an introduction to the listening experience.

The appointments with the Mahler Ambassadors

The Mahler Ambassadors will introduce the concerts of the Mahler Academy Orchestra on the following occasions:

10 September – 19:30 h 
Bolzano/Bozen – Teatro Comunale&Stadttheater, foyer 1st floor

> The introduction will be held by: Cornelia Fischer

11 September – 21:00 h
Vienna – Konzerthaus Wien

> The introduction will be held by: Yll Rama, Johanna Ressel 

13 September – 19:00 h
Cologne – Kölner Philharmonie, foyer

> The introduction will be held by: Emily Balcázar Rojas, Erdal Melis, David Christof Ubber 

15 September
Paris – Online-Presentation

> The introduction will be held by: Garance Blanc Lemagnent, Hadi Naïmi 

MAHLER AMBASSADORS

Emily Balcázar Rojas (Germany)

Garance Blanc Lemagnent (France)

Cornelia Fischer (Italy)

Erdal Melis (Germany)

Hadi Naïmi (France)

Yll Rama (Austria)

Johanna Ressel (Austria)

David Christof Ubber (Germany)