The Global Conservatoire is a cooperation project between the mdw and four renowned music academies in London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and New York City.

The innovative cooperation project brings together teachers and students at the five locations Vienna, New York, London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen in an online lecture hall, thus promoting the international exchange of ideas. The asynchronously designed teaching programme enables students to organise their studies individually in three time zones and to complete courses despite their busy rehearsal and practice schedules. All Global Conservatoire courses can be credited towards a degree programme at the mdw (2 ECTS).

In addition to asynchronous classes, which are designed to give maximum flexibility in scheduling, each course will also include synchronous online sessions on Zoom to deepen the exchange between teachers and students.

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Global Conservatoire partner universities:
 

• Manhattan School of Music (New York)
• Royal College of Music (London)
• Royal Danish Academy (Kopenhagen)
• Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Amsterdam)

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Registration information
 

Registration deadline for all courses of the partner universities in the summer semester 2025/26:
January 28th 2026, by e-mail to globalconservatoire@mdw.ac.at

Registration  for all mdw courses in the summer semester 2025/26: 
via mdwOnline (Attention: limited places!)

Find more information about the Global Conservatoire on the websites of the Global Conservatoire and the International Office.

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Courses in the summer semester 2025/26 at the mdw:

PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS - IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE

Study level: Bachelor, Master
Course tutor: Axel Petri-Preis

Course content:
In this seminar, we will explore a variety of approaches to participation in the arts. Starting from the observation of community artist François Matarasso that participation has recently become a normalized art practice and policy, we will look at the history of participatory and community art and engage with current texts and reflections, including those by David Elliot et al., Helena Gaunt et al., Dave Camlin, Thomas Turino, and Maria Westvall. Concepts such as Artistic Citizenship, Musicians as Makers in Society, Music Making and the Civic Imagination, and Cultural Democracy will be discussed. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, students will critically reflect on existing projects and develop their own ideas.

Dates of the synchronous  sessions (live via Zoom):

• 11.03.2026, 25.03.2026, 06.05.2026
  4pm - 5.30pm Vienna local time

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Courses in the summer semester 2025/26 at the partner universities:

THE SONGS THAT SHAPED A NATION - A PORTRAIT OF DANISH COMPOSER CARL NIELEN'S VOCAL MUSIC

Institution: The Royal Danish Academy of Music

Study level: Bachelor, Master
Course tutor: Søren Schauser

Course content:

Learn more about the historical and cultural background of Nielsen’s songs through this course that combines asynchronous teaching and 1-2 individual online masterclasses, where you will work on interpretation of a song by Carl Nielsen chosen with guidance from RDAM voice faculty, including Professor of Voice, Eva Hess Thaysen.

Outside of Denmark, Carl Nielsen is one of the most fascinating figures in European musical culture in the early 20th century. In his homeland, a large part of his song oeuvre of more than 300 songs has been known by virtually every Danish citizen, making him extremely influential in creating a unique style of music.

But what is the background of these songs? We will start by examining the political landscape in Denmark after the country’s disastrous defeat to Germany in 1864 that gave rise to longing for national pride through artistic expressions.

We will discuss the benefits and challenges of performing these songs in their original language, studying the music from the performers’ perspective and learning about the experiences of singers and pianists. And finally, we’ll have a look at Carl Nielsen’s controversial label as a “national” composer and at the common critique of such labelling as wrong and abusive.

Dates of the synchronous  sessions (live via Zoom):

• March 17, 2026, 16:00-17:00 PM (local time CET/CEST)
• March 31, 2026, 16:00-17:00 PM (local time CET/CEST)
• Apric 21, 2026, 16:00-17:00 PM (local time CET/CEST)

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CONTEMPORARY IDEAS IN MUSIC EDUCATION 

Institution: The Royal College of Music, London

Study level: Master 
Course tutor: Dr Mary Stakelum

Course content: 

This module is for performers and composers who want to develop their critical understanding of contemporary ideas in music education, and explore the impact of tradition and innovation on their own creative practice and that of others.

We will work with ideas from philosophy, sociology, psychology and human geography, and draw on the scholarship of leading contemporary thinkers such as Biesta, Koza, Monbiot, Murris, Voegelin and Westerlund.

Topics include World Centred Music Education; Conceptions of Musicality; Rewilding Music Education; Developing the Musician; Soundworlds; Partnership Pedagogy in Theory and Practice; Understanding the Learner: Voice, Agency and Lived Experience.

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INTRODUCTION TO MUSICAL THEATRE WRITING 

Institution: Manhattan School of Music

Study level: Bachelor
Course tutor: Andrew Gerle

Course content:

Creating a compelling and memorable musical theatre song requires writers to master a breadth of skills: music theory, harmonic and melodic techniques, vocal composition, dramaturgy and playwriting. Students will analyze songs from the Broadway canon and write music and lyrics for two original songs of their own that are active and actable, and satisfying both musically and dramatically. This class is aimed at students from different backgrounds, but with a prerequisite of basic theory and harmony, and at least rudimentary piano skills

Dates of the synchronous  sessions (live via Zoom):

• February 18, 2026, 10:00-11:00 AM (local time New York)
• March 18, 2026, 10:00-11:00 AM (local time New York)
• April 22, 2026, 10:00-11:00 AM (local time New York)

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IMPROVISATION TECHNIQUES

Institution: Conservatorium van Amsterdam

Study level: Master
Course tutor: Yaniv Nachum

Course Content:

Exploring the art of spontaneous musical creation in ‘Free Improvisation techniques’ This course covers foundational exercises, instrumental possibilities, and advanced methods in free improvisation. Engaging in live collaborative sessions, drawing insights from classical and jazz examples.Develop personalized improvisational skills through diverse practices and examples, bridging theory, analysis, and practical application in a dynamic learning environment.

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Contact

Melanie Karner, BA
Short Term Mobilities and International Scholarships
T +43 1 71155-7424
karner-m@mdw.ac.at

Mag.a Christine Seblatnig, MAS
International cooperations and projects
T +43 1 71155-7423
seblatnig@mdw.ac.at
 

Website of the Global Conservatoire
Website of the International Office