Direction

Vijay Upadhyaya was born in Lucknow, India. After his graduation with „Bachelor of Arts“ in English literature, history and economics from Lucknow University he commenced his musical studies in Austria. He studied conducting and voice in Austria holding a graduate degree (Magister Artium) from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. His artistic education also includes twelve-year diploma studies in Indian percussion (Tabla) and Indian classical dance (Kathak).

He regularly conducts concerts across Europe, Asia and North and South America and has recorded several CDs. He is a visiting professor for conducting at the Conservatories of Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Chengdu and Beijing (China). He has also directed music projects in Iran, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil and East Timor. He specializes in Mozart opera, oratorio and orchestral repertoire and the combination of Asian techniques such as Yoga and Tai chi with western vocal and conducting styles.

Since 1988 Vijay Upadhyaya has conducted several choirs and orchestras in Austria and abroad, among them the Graz University Choir and Orchestra, Thirteen Strings Canada, the Boston Sinfonetta, USA and The Borusan Orchestra in Turkey. From 1993 to 1995 he was lecturer at the University of Music in Graz. In the summer of 1995 he conducted the choir at the master classes of the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS). From 1994 to 1999 he was the musical director of the Vienna Karlskirche. His arrangements of Austrian Christmas carols are broadcasted throughout Europe.

From 1997-2001 he conducted at the Austrian Cultural Forum in Rome and at the “Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia”. 2001-2005 he directed the “European Voices Istanbul” at the Austrian Cultural Forum in Istanbul. In spring 2005 he was director of the European Union’s  "European Horizons" project in Turkey, conducting concerts in five countries and holding master-classes in eight Turkish conservatories.

At present Vijay Upadhyaya is the artistic director of the Vienna University Orchestra and Choir, of the Vienna Star Choir and Orchestra and has undertaken projects with artists of world renown, such as Peter Sellars, A. R. Rahman, Subhash Ghai, Peng Liyuan and Christoph Schlingensief.  2007-2010 he was conductor of the Iran- Austria Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Teheran. Since 2008 he works as an expert evaluating cultural projects for the European Union. Since 2009 he is guest conductor of the China National Symphony and since 2011 conductor of the Providencia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Concepción Symphony Orchestra in Chile.

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Musical Assistants

Born in Klagenfurt, Veronika Schmid had her first piano lessons at the Carinthian State Conservatory. After her high school graduation and one exchange year in Canada she enrolled in Music Pedagogics and recorder at the Vienna University of Music with special emphasis on choir conducting. Besides her studies she also was a member of the Vienna Vocal Consort.

Since October 2000 she has been working as Assistant Conductor of the Vienna University Choirs. In addition she also works for the music publishing company Universal Edition.

Barbara Hofko, studies in Music-education und History, finished in 2007, Mag.a Artium; set priorities on Conducting and correpetition; since 2003 in the orchestra on the violine, since 2006 viola; assistant to the principal conductor since 2007; teaching music at school's and for adults.

Josef Sagmeister, born in Merano. From an early age he learned to play piano and cello and began to participate in various choirs as a singer. In 2001 he completed the School of Church Music in Merano and then studied for two years at the Bolzano Conservatory experimental composition. Since 2004, he studied church music at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna.

He is an assistant director at the Vienna University Choir.

Nelly LiPuma is an Italian composer, pianist and conductor living in Vienna.

She received her musical education in Italy, Germany, Sweden and Austria. Her various compositions, most notably "Symphonia per l'Europa", celebrating the Italian presidency of the European Union, have been performed internationally.

Qin Huang was born in 1981 in Guangdong, Volksrepublik China. Since 2003 she studys composition, choral conducting, and since 2008 orchestral conducting at the university for music and art in vienna. She works as singer, acommpanist, assistent and conductor with different choirs.

Management

Magdalena Moser was born in Graz; after finishing school she spent her gap year working as an Au-apair in London. 

She studies Spanish and History at the University of Vienna and is working for "People to People-Ambassador Program" guiding young american students through Europe. 

She is an active member of the Choir since 2004. Since 2010 she is in charge of management and administration for choir and orchestra and is working as personal assistent of the director. 

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