The Salzburg State Art Grand Prize goes to alumna Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin

Deputy State Governor Stefan Schnöll praised the award winner as a modern artist: “This is the first time that a woman has received this recognition award and the first time that a woman has received this award in the field of music. This is a strong indication of the quality, creativity and importance of women in music. With her multifaceted and varied work, she richly deserves the award.”

The Moscow-born composer and pianist began her musical training in Russia and Bulgaria before studying at the Mozarteum Salzburg in 1994. There she studied composition with Boguslaw Schaeffer and piano with Alfons Kontarsky. Since then there has been a close artistic connection between Karastoyanov-Hermentin and the city of Salzburg. Many of her works were premiered at important music festivals in Salzburg such as “Aspekte” and “Dialogue”. Her orchestral work “Approach”, which she performed on behalf of the State of Salzburg for the 2006 Mozart Year, is particularly outstanding.

The award winner was very moved by the award and the recognition of her work: “I am very happy with the prestigious award from Salzburg as a cultural region. Deeply rooted in the Salzburg music scene for three decades now, many of my commissioned compositions have been produced in premieres and premieres. My thanks go above all to the brilliant musicians, the unbending organizers and the curious, neutral audience.“

The jury, made up of famous people such as Sabine Reiter (mica – austria’s music information center), Ludwig Nussbichler (head of Musikum Salzburg) and musician Thomas Heißbauer, praised the composer for its versatility. her work is complex, which balances between rationality and intuition and musical life is greatly enriched. She draws on influences from Russian-Bulgarian folk music, jazz and various periods without naming them directly. Instead, she develops her individual musical logic for each piece.

The Salzburg State Art Grand Prize will be ceremonially awarded on November 12, 2024 in the Salzburg Residence. The Mozarteum University is proud to have such an amazing artist among its graduates and congratulates her on this well-deserved honor!