Workshop 2023
May 4th- 7th 2023, Schloss Imbshausen
The Workshop is at the core of the Lied the Way experience.
In 2023, it was a chance for 18 female art song pianists to gather for a weekend away from the stresses and obligations of daily life; To connect with others while grounding in herself.
The exchange that happens at the workshop is a welcome addition to years of formal education in the classical music sphere. Innovation is encouraged, individualism is celebrated, instincts are followed. The cross-generational exchange allows experience to guide youth, and youth to inspire experience. The three tenants of our mission statement give the weekend its structure: well-being, craft, and career.
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Well-Being
Before we are artists, musicians, pianists, we are women. It is important that we care to our inner worlds- our bodies, minds and emotions— before we can be expected to maintain the high expectations which a performing career demands. For this reason we started every morning with a yoga and improvisatory movement session— to ground in the body and silence the mind. Sought-after and much admired yoga teacher Lena Röpert is a specialist in female yoga and was leading the daily sessions.
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Craft
What unites us all is our passion for art song: commitment to the piano and its relation to the sung text. Attending the workshop were some of the foremost female art song pianists in the business today, including Prof. Kathleen Kelly (Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Baylor University) and Prof.Pauliina Tukiainen (Prof. Mozarteum Salzburg). These outstanding musicians were available throughout the weekend as mentors and master teachers. The morning music sessions were a chance for the participants to try out repertoire and dive deeper into songs with both their mentors and peers, going beyond the hierarchical format of a teacher-student masterclass.
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Career
Perhaps the part that comes the least-naturally for artists, but whose importance has proven itself particularly in recent times, is seeking career support and advice from other professionals. The ability to network, market oneself and build a career led by core values are skills often overlooked in a formal classical music education. Performance coach Waltraud Österreicher lead interactive afternoon seminars on self-esteem and self-management . The evenings included round-table discussions and Q&As on relevant topics, moderated by guest speakers such as Prof.Natasha Loges (University of Freiburg, Royal College of Music) and Chanda VanderHart (University of Performing Arts Vienna). The themes for the 2023 workshop were: portfolio careers, university positions and the importance of mentorship.
Schloss Imbshausen
The workshop took place in idyllic Schloss Imbshausen, a Neo-gothic castle in Northeim, Germany. Located in the Lower Saxon countryside, all participants were spending the three days and nights in this beautiful castle and its surrounding nature. From breakfast to dinner, every moment was shared in the community.
What Past Participants are Saying…
“The workshop 'Lied the Way' helps the female collaborative pianists not to forget they are personalities in their own right and don't necessary need someone else to realise themselves: it inspires them to find their own creative way in their professional life and to have the courage to do that."
— Anastasia (Russia, based in Hannover)
"It was so heartwarming and inspiring to see all these wonderful people and musicians in the same place and I felt such a strong sense of community. It really has made me feel stronger going into work!”
— Mairi (Scotland, based in Coburg)
"I believe 'Lied the way' helped me to knock my willing and the potentiality to become an active artist. Try this and that, go here and there, there is no chance to be something as I want as long as I stay in my comfort zone and just dream about it or practice for an endless goal. Face it, experience a lot, fail, lead the way, just do it, just make it happen!”