The purpose of the association is to promote the cultural education and social development of young people, in particular to bring classical music closer to a younger audience with little familiarity with it, and to overcome the barriers that opera houses and concert halls can represent. This educational mission first enables us to develop suitable concepts for our project for use in general school teaching. The non-profit activities of our association are wide-ranging, from conceptual work promoting the musical education and development of children and young people, to workshops and studies, through to organising events.
About us
Our Initiative
By founding the ClassiXX@Now support association, we are living up to our responsibility to plan the key social and sustainable steps of our project.
Our Concept
Key questions: What patterns can be identified in music across genres? How do we understand classical music against the backdrop of a constantly changing world? What influences our perception of classical music? What role can music play in the school’s mission of fostering social cohesion?
In the lessons, students engage with the encounter between classical and “modern” music in a playful way and through a variety of teaching methods. Learners do not simply experience the pieces as passive listeners. Instead, they actively take part themselves by making music and dancing.
OurTeam
Meet the dynamic team of educators and musicians who are reimagining classical music for music lessons in schools.
LENA HIRSCHFELD, BED
Teacher
Lena Hirschfeld studied teacher education at the University College of Teacher Education (KPH) Vienna, specialising in music and German. She currently teaches music theory, piano, vocal coaching, choir and musical theatre at a music-focused middle school in Vienna, where she is also form teacher of a music class. In addition to teaching in the music-focus classes, she also teaches regular classes and knows first-hand the need for up-to-date teaching materials for music.
MAG. CHRISTOPH SCHÖNDORFER
Teacher
Christoph Schöndorfer teaches geography and economics, history and civic education, as well as basic digital education at a middle school in Vienna’s 15th district. Having faced the challenge of teaching subjects outside his own specialisation, he has gained a great deal of valuable experience in teaching music and is well aware of both the obstacles and the opportunities of modern music teaching at lower secondary level.
Azis Sadikovic
Conductor
Azis Sadikovic is a renowned conductor with an international career who appears regularly at major festivals such as the Bayreuth Festival and the Grafenegg Festival. His extensive concert activity has taken him to numerous prestigious orchestras and opera houses, including the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, the Brandenburg State Orchestra, the Danish National Radio Orchestra (DR Symphony Orchestra) and the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, as well as the Opéra national du Rhin in Strasbourg and the National Opera in Prague. Azis Sadikovic is a prize-winner of several renowned conducting competitions and is particularly committed to performing contemporary works.