The origins of Alpenkammermusik can be traced back to 2005, during a winter holiday ski trip by co-founding members Daniel Swartz and Elena Levina. While staying in the monastery in Maria Luggau in the Lesachtal, Daniel and Elena heard about a violin maker who lived in the small town of Liesing 20 minutes away. The violin maker had died 25 years earlier but his son, Werner Lexer, was an active member of the community. Daniel and Elena went to meet Werner Lexer and Werner’s cousin, Stefan Lexer, and an idea for a festival was born to bring a more international music scene into the valley. The Lexer’s urged them to bring musicians for a trial concert that would gauge the valley’s reaction. Daniel and Elena contacted their friends Tanya Bannister and Stephen Buck, and the first concert was held in the summer of 2006. Featuring Claudia Ajmone-Marsan on violin, Tanya Bannister and Stephen Buck on piano, and Trey Lee on cello, the performance was met with immediate enthusiasm. With generous and frequent support from the Associated Chamber Music Players Association, the festival launched in 2007 with 17 people from around the world coming to study and perform alongside faculty, and has since grown to include approximately 40 participants, many of whom return year over year.
Who We Are
What began as four friends playing music now includes pre-professional and amateur participants from around the world, working with some of today’s great artists.
It has become a musical destination in the Alps that participants return to, year after year, to absorb the artistically exciting atmosphere in a setting that offers deep immersion into the art of chamber music performance. The faculty, all renowned soloists and collaborative artists, believe passionately that chamber music is fundamental to the careers of future professionals, and a practice that engenders a powerful sense of community. The talented amateurs who come year after year to AKM appreciate the artistic sense of togetherness, and pre-professional musicians can begin building the networks that will support them throughout their lives. Our participants with invaluable life experience often become mentors for the younger artists.
Beginning in 2010, the festival has invited additional artist faculty in voice (Randall Scarlata), flute (Guy Eshed), and clarinet (Chad Burrow) as a way of expanding the reach of the festival. Our belief is that a wide range of chamber music experience with winds and voice can only deepen the appreciation for the classical music tradition.
The festival now has a very competitive selection process. Top young professional musicians starting their musical careers will work and perform alongside our world-class faculty and exceptionally experienced and artistic amateurs. The relationships between our young artists and amateurs is a marvelous opportunity for participants of any age to develop mentoring relationships that will, we hope, far outlast their time in Austria.
