We conducting students from the mdw were very much looking forward to the visit by the Columbian conductor and mdw alumnus Alejandro Posada. He conducted the mdw’s Webern Symphony Orchestra in November 2019 as part of the “Concierto de Música Latinoamericana” (concert of Latin American music).

Working and interacting with Maestro Posada was very inspiring and pleasurable, particularly because he is a graduate of our university. In the course of the conducting masterclass, he shared his thoughts and ideas, which are a product of his long international career and at the same time have their roots in his training in the Viennese conducting school. Therefore, we were very motivated by him to pursue the subsequent steps in our careers after graduation and equally to develop and value our Viennese conducting school.

Moreover, Maestro Posada is a specialist for the symphonic repertoire of Latin America – a repertoire that is largely unknown in Vienna and therefore of great interest to curious Viennese audiences. This literature has complex and interesting performance traditions, in many cases even a broad basis in the oral traditions of the many Latin American culture, in particular in the rhythms, which are carried by a large number of percussion instruments. For this reason, this repertoire is quite difficult to play if one faithfully follows the score and does not know (or “feel”, as Maestro Posada put it) the traditions.

The masterclass was for us conducting students a wonderful and enriching opportunity to gain practical knowledge of some of these traditions, as well as to be confronted with new challenges, thoughts, and emotions. The work with the orchestra – in the rehearsals and in the conducting masterclass – was very refreshing, energising, and inspiring, and the audience at the concert was able to sense very intensely the enthusiasm and emotions of the maestro and the orchestra. We were also happy that Columbian Ambassador Miguel Camilo Ruiz Blanco was able to attend the concert and were appreciative of his interest.

For me personally, as a student from Latin America, it was an exceptional pleasure that our musical society showed such great interest in this repertoire, and this interest is growing. I am happy about our discovery of this music and about the initiative shown by our community.

We would like to especially thank Maestro Alejandro Posada for his energy and generosity with us students. Many thanks also to the mdw, Columbia’s Fundación Iberacademy, and the EU’s Erasmus+ programme. Last but not least, I would like to extend special thanks to Prof. Simeon Pironkoff for the tremendous initiative and organisation!