Two Americans make it into the Vienna Philharmonic academy
NewsThe Vienna Phil has rolled out its second year-long academy, designed to train young musicians aged 18 to 27 in the orchestra’s way of playing… with a view possibly to being considered as a future player.
Here is a list of the new group of academy students:
Violin: Lucas Takeshi Stratmann – USA (pictured)
Violin: Robert Amadeo Sanders – USA
Violin: Sandra Seržāne – Latvia
Viola: Jannis Hoesch – Germany
Violoncello: Bence Temesvári – Hungary
Double bass: Carlos Aguilar Vargas – Chile
Flute: Theresia Prinz – Austria
Oboe: Katharina Kratochwil – Austria
Clarinet: Petra Liedauer – Austria
Bassoon: Traian-Petroniu Sturza – Romania
Horn: Thomas Johannes Steinwender – Austria
Trombone: Alberto Bonillo Losa – Spain
Trumpet: Bernhard Bittermann – Austria
Excluding Chile from America. So bloody “American”
So, according to your logic, andti-americanism is anti the whole continent, not just the US, correct?
Never mind…
Another variation of the same misnomer. In my own country, there’s a lot of “anti-American” feeling, but we usually call it “antiestadounidense” or, more colloquially, “antigringo”.
NEWSFLASH “American is not a continent’
It’s rather simple to understand: With the exception of the United States of America, no other country (including Chile) includes America in its name.
American food/American English/American culture/American cities/American automobiles/American Airlines/American companies/American sports/American……football/American president/American television/American brands, etc
List could go on…no need to let us know when you get the gist; these days it’s fashionable to be offended on behalf of someone else.
In South America (and maybe in Mexico) North America, South America and Central America are considered one continent. In the USA, they are considered two continents. Plus Central America, which is in no man’s land. It is a matter of perception, since the land mass doesn’t change because of what different countries name it.
Take the pressure off of these kids and leave them alone to study and learn. Why this attention? Admittedly, the Academy system is a wonderful stepping stone to a top-level position, which in other countries is completely lacking.
Many, Many other orchestras have an “Academy System”, Don Antonio.
A few years ago the Phil an American trombonist, Jeremy Wilson, but he left because the job (which included playing for the Staatsoper) simpy entailed too much and he got a teaching job at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.