Meet the Violin Garden Summer Academy Team!

TEAM

VIOLIN GARDEN SUMMER ACADEMY VIENNA

The Heart of our Violin Garden Summer Academy Vienna is our Team!
Our Suzuki certified teachers provide wonderful group classes in the Palace, along with highly accomplished piano accompanists, playful outdoor activity teachers and a leadership development specialist for the parent workshops!

Our violin teachers have all had a life long journey with music and the violin and bring a multitude of different experiences and views into the world of music. Our love for music and trust in a bright future is what brings us together for your children!

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Team

Anna Lea

Andrea

Monika

Szymon

Algy

Sandra

Caroline

Annette

Michael

General Assistant

Anna Lea Stefánsdóttir

Artistic Director and Violin Teacher

Anna Lea is the founder and Artistic Director of the Violin Garden Summer Academy Vienna. She also serves on the board of the Austrian Suzuki Institute of Music and is the creator of the Violin Garden YouTube Channel.

Anna Lea believes that learning the art of violin playing is one of the greatest gifts a child can receive—for neural, emotional, and personal development. Through the universal language of music, she is convinced we can all contribute to making the world a more beautiful and compassionate place. Helping children flourish, and supporting parents in creating the best environment for their growth, is at the heart of her life’s work.

The violin has been the guiding light in Anna Lea’s own journey. She began as a child with the Suzuki Method, later completing her studies at the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien. After receiving her Suzuki certification, she taught her two daughters daily for ten years—living every role of the Suzuki Triangle as teacher, parent, and student.

Three words that describe her: mindful, whole-hearted and present

Her group classes are: focused, demanding and playful

Anna Lea was born in Reykjavik, Iceland. At the age of six, she moved to Sweden, where she began violin lessons through the Suzuki Method. When her family returned to Iceland, she continued her studies with Anna Podhajska, now a renowned Suzuki Teacher Trainer and pioneer of the method in Poland.

In 1997, Anna Lea’s musical path led her to Vienna, where she studied at the Vienna Conservatory of Music with Prof. Timon Hornig and Prof. Werner Hink (Concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic). She graduated in 2005 with both a Solo Performance Degree and a Pedagogy Degree. Other teachers who shaped her artistry include Szymon Kuran(former Concertmaster of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra), Prof. Arkadi Winokurow (Bruckner Conservatory, Linz), and the Altenberg Trio.

For more than 20 years, Anna Lea has worked as a freelance violinist, performing with orchestras and chamber ensembles in Vienna and abroad. She also co-founded the multimedia initiative “Talespin – Musical Tales for Big and Small”(www.talespin.eu), a production designed to engage audiences of all ages.

In 2018, together with her colleague Gustav Krachler, she designed and organized a Suzuki camp at Schloss Laudon—a pilot project that later blossomed into the Violin Garden Summer Academy, officially launched in 2020.

Anna Lea is an ESA-certified Suzuki teacher and has been teaching children and adults for nearly two decades. She also serves as a board member of the Austrian Suzuki Institute of Music (www.asiom.at).

Andrea

Andrea Mugrauer-Beis

Violinist & Suzuki Teacher Trainer

Andrea Mugrauer-Beis´ journey with the Suzuki Method began in 1998, when she completed all five levels of training in Germany. In 2012, she qualified as a Suzuki Violin Teacher Trainer with the European Suzuki Association, and since then she has led numerous courses and seminars for violin teachers across Europe. She is a co-founder of the Austrian Suzuki Institute of Music and serves as Chair of its Board of Directors.

Three words that describe her: loving, accurate, encouraging

Her group classes are: Playful, collaborative, challenging

Andrea Mugrauer-Beis received her early musical education at the Linz Music High School, graduating in 1986. She went on to study violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with Michael Schnitzler and Edward Zienkowski, completing her degrees in Concert Performance and Instrumental Pedagogy with distinction in 1996.

Alongside her teaching, Andrea has enjoyed a rich performing career. She has played with ensembles such as the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado, Václav Neumann, Franz Welser-Möst, and James Judd, as well as with Ensemble Aktuell under Franz Welser-Möst. Concert tours have taken her throughout Europe, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, South America, Japan, and Indonesia. For several years, she also served as first violinist of the Belvedere Quartet, performing extensively across Europe.

Andrea taught for eleven years at the Johannes Brahms Music School in Mürzzuschlag, and since 2006 she has been a faculty member at the Gerasdorf Music School near Vienna. In addition to her local teaching, she continues her active role as a Teacher Trainer in Vienna. Dedicated to lifelong learning, she regularly participates in the annual Teacher Trainer and Teacher Conventions of the European Suzuki Association.

Monika Witzany

Violin Teacher

„To teach music, is to touch somebody’s life.“ (Tove Tetriköy) These words are one of the leading sentences in my classes.

My intention is, that the pupils catch fire with the tremendous world of music, that they are motivated to play violin, because they realize how wonderful it is to produce beautiful sounds and melodies on the string, that they discover how to search for colors and characters, how great it is, to be part of an ensemble swinging together and that they enjoy the possibility of expression through their instrument.
I focus on good technical basics, efficient and free use of the body along with a positive mindset and love to go through different genres and projects with the students.

Three keywords that describe her: sensitive, expressive, humorous

Her group classes are: lively, thorough, spontaneous

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CV, Mag. art. Monika Witzany

Education:
Monika Witzany grew up in a musical family and started taking recorder lessons at the age of five. At the age of seven she began learning the violin and at ten she added piano classes. She studied at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz and at fifteen she was accepted into the Music University Salzburg, Mozarteum. From there she continued her education at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and at Eastman School of Music in Rochester N.Y., USA.
M.W. graduated her studies as Mag.art. violin teacher and wrote her dissertation about „Background and discussions to Suzuki´s Mother-Tongue-Method“. She has been a ESA certified violin teacher since 2005.

In connection with music her interests count also for the big and constantly developing body – mind field.
2008 – 2010 she attended Teacher Training Courses in the Franklin Method – „Movement starts in head“ and Qi Gong/Taiji trainings.
2018/19 M.W. passed the postgradual course of Musikphysiology at the University of Music in Vienna.
Since 2017 she has been a part of the Feldenkrais Training Vienna 8.

Performing Experiences with orchestras and ensembles:
Ensemble Aktuell (Franz Welser-Möst), Haydn Akademie, Wiener Symphonie Orchester, Altomonte Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra Innstrumenti, Ensemble Sonare Linz, Johann Strauss Ensemble and others. She was one of the founding members of the Österreichische Salonisten and toured around the world (Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Australia and the USA) with her folk and cross over group, the Florianer Tanzlgeiga.

Teaching Experiences:
2000-2002: Vienna Conservatory
2002-2010: Johannes Brahms Musikschule Mürzzuschlag, first Suzuki School in Austria,
Founder of the annual „Suzuki Festival Mürzzuschlag“ in 2004, which she directed 2008 – 2010.
2007: establishment of the Suzuki Violin Project at the Johann Sebastian Bach Musikschule, Vienna
M.W. performs with the Coolstrings, her Suzuki ensemble in variable size.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N0jsQ_bDmI
Instructor at various youth music summer courses and seminars for violin teachers.
In 2013 she co-founded the Austrian Suzuki Institute of Music (www.asiom.at) and is an active member of the board as vice president of the organization.

Szymon Ogryzek

Piano Accompanist

Szymon Ogryzek is one of the most valued Polish pianists in the field of chamber music.

Three words that describe him: Precise, passionate, focused

His accompaniment is: Attentive, patient, supportive

His dedication to playing with others led him to be appointed the official pianist of many masterclasses
such as: the Zenon Brzewski International Music Courses in Łańcut, Allegro Vivo in Horn, Orpheus
Music Academy in Vienna, and the International Master Class for Violin at Haus Marteau in
Germany. He cooperated with professors such as: Michael Frischenschlager, Christian Altenburger,
Tanja Becker-Bender, and Agata Szymczewska.

The pianist is well known for his passion for the education of children. He dedicated two of his
theses to research on various methods of teaching in order to find his very own, unique method,
which has been influenced by Polish, Russian, and Japanese methods. To broaden his teaching
horizons, Ogryzek has completed the first level of the Suzuki Method training, as well as worked
with children as a music educator at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

Szymon Ogryzek is the pianist of the Cuore Piano Trio and Budzyńska-Ogryzek Duo, with which
he regularly gives concerts throughout Europe and Canada. He is a prizewinner of many
international chamber music competitions, i.a. in Poland, France, Switzerland, Great Britain,
Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Canada, and Singapore.

Ruei-Ran Wu (Algy)

Piano Accompanist

A piano accompanist from Taiwan and a renowned composer who also plays the bandoneón in Tango music.

Three words that describe him: sympathetic, passionate, rational
His accompaniment is: Musicality and technique in a structured and fostering environment

Born in Zamboanga City, Philippines, Ruei-Ran Wu is a graduate of composition at the Vienna National University of Music and Performing Arts, Austria; a student of bandoneón under maestro Juan Jose Mosalini in Paris, and a major in psychology at the National Chengchi University, Taiwan; He is an active composer, bandoneónist, conductor, and is a piano accompanist for the Vienna Tanzquartier.

His works were twice nominated for the Golden Horse Film Award (Taiwan) as the best original film score. The music ensembles and festivals he has participated as performer, composer or producer include the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Austrian Jeunesse, Ju Percussion Group, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Artists Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Indigenous Dancer, Vienna Taiwan Choir, Taiwan independent band “We Save Strawberry”, “Smoking Ring”, Linz Art Festival, Crimean Festival, International Taipei Tango Festival, to name a few. In 2015, he initiated the Quartet “Twango” (https://vitamusica.at), an ensemble group performing Taiwanese music in the Argentinean tango style. Their first album “The Other End of the World” was released in 2018. He founded the “ViTa MusicA” (Vienna Tango Music Academy) in 2017 with the goal of performing, composing and promoting the Argentinean tango music.

Sandra Binder

Outdoor Activity Teacher

I love creating a relaxed and safe atmosphere in the gardens between the intense violin classes with diverse activities.  As a paedagogue, I consciously plan activities that encourage curiosity, team work, focus and vigor.

Myself in three keywords: empathic, authentic, loving

The outdoor activity times with her are: flexible, fun, creative

Sandra received her degree in “Freizeitspädagogik” (after school activity teacher) from the Pädagogische Hochschule Wien in 2018.  She is currently furthering her studies in this field with BiM (Bildung im Mittelpunkt), and institution of the city of Vienna that creates after school activities within the school system and camps during the summer holidays.  Her experience with children and adolescents is broad, ranging from working in kindergarden, elementary schools and with adolescents in high school and with children of all ages in summer camps.

Caroline Sandara

Outdoor Activity Teacher

Three words that describe me are friendly, helpful and competent.

I’m really looking forward to being with the children and adolescents!

I am 28 years old and from Lower Austria. I came into contact with music very early on, my first instrument was a triangle, followed by others such as the accordion and guitar. But what fascinates me most is the viola, which I have been playing for 4 years. I am a passionate florist by profession and an important part of my work is communicating with and responding to customers large and small.

Annette Mittendorfer

Outdoor Activity Teacher

I am looking forward to creating insightful, active and creative outdoor activities. The joy of spending time in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere is just as important to me as being more sporty and fun. I am happy to support the opportunity for the children to get to know new friends through music and free time together.

Myself in three keywords: curious, empathic, humorous
The outdoor activity times with her are: active, fun, flexible

Annette Mittendorfer was born in Munich/ Germany into a musical family and moved to Vienna after high school to study classical music (Violin), as well as music education. She enjoyed playing concerts in lots of countries and meeting many interesting people around the world, but also teaching violin (children to adults) for many years . Besides teaching and working with children in Vienna she visited other countries to be a part of cultural education, like to Colombia, where she directed a youth- orchestra and gave masterclasses. Annette received also a degree in “Freizeitpädagogik” (after school activity teacher) from the Pädagogische Hochschule Wien in 2016. Currently she is teaching at the Johann Sebastian Bach Musikschule in Vienna, but also working with groups in Kindergarden as well as some classes at the primary school.

Michael Gutiérrez

Parent Coach

Michael believes in the power of music to facilitate personal development and he is passionate about sharing the transformative power of music with children.

He is particularly excited to share his learning and development experience and insights with the parents of Violin Garden Summer Academy Students. His “train the trainer” approach is designed to help parents become the best musical and life “coaches” for their children that they can be.

Three words that describe him: intuitive, analytical, warm
His workshops are: engaging, illuminating, fun

Michael is an entrepreneur, violinist, trainer, and speaker. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from the University of California at Irvine, a High Diploma in Violin Performance “with honors” from the Vienna Conservatory of Music, and over 20 years of experience as a professional musician. In 2007, following 3 years as a violinist with the Vienna Radio Symphony (RSO), Michael re-invented himself and founded Executive Relocations Austria. E.R.A. currently provides corporate relocation services for companies such as Apple, Coca Cola Hellenic, The World Bank, and many other high profile companies throughout Austria. In 2012 Michael established “Podium – Innovative Talent Development” to provide comprehensive whole-brain leadership development for domestic and international organizations. Michael is certified in the use of the full suite of Neethling Brain Instruments (NBI, a neuroscience/psychometrics-based tool for personal and professional development) as well as in the EQ-i 2.0, and EQ 360 (a psychometrics-based tool for emotional intelligence development).

General Assistant

More information coming shortly.

I very much enjoy being part of the staff and assisting in the preparation of the Academy. During the Academy I keep the overview of the schedule and the children can come to me any time they need assistance (that is not violin related).

Shinichi Suzuki
“Perhaps it is music that will save the world”