Caroline Duffner
About
I am a professional violinist and experienced coach. I help players overcome tension and stage fright.
Teaching Style
When I was a student at the Vienna Musik Akademie I found myself struggling with tension problems related to the way I was playing.
I was very fortunate to be able to continue my studies with Kato Havas who enabled me and many other players to play freely and without stage fright.
I held orchestra positions for many years in orchestras such as Orchestra Phil. de Gran Canaria, Rai Napoli etc.
Since then I have been a freelance player and coach and I also do a lot of Solo playing.
I also became Kato Havas assistant teaching her wonderful New Approach to players all over the world.
It is very rewarding for me to help you overcome tension issues such as tendenitis, physical injuries etc, which I myself used to have in my students days.
Being free physically and mentally also enables you to go to the heart of Music making, which is what it is all about after all.
This of course will definetly enable you to play without Stage Fright as well.
No amount of medicine or physical therapy can offer lasting solutions, as the problems players experience are directly related to the instrument hold, the movements and usually excessive pressure.
My lessons will be tailor made to your particular needs, and once you are free of blockages, we can really enjoy working on repertoire together.
I am always very happy to prepare you for concerts, exams, auditions or whatever goal you may have set for yourself. I work together will make you more and more able to sustain long hours of playing without physical discomfort as your understanding grows. You will be able to really enjoy your playing!
Should you be one of those lucky players without any blockages,Im very happy to work right away with you on whatever aspects of your violin or viola playing you would like to improve.
Really looking forward to working with you
Credentials & Affiliations
I took my first steps into the world of music at the age of 12 at the Beethoven Music School in Mödling. The thrill of performing the Vivaldi Violin Concerto in a concert for young talents and earning accolades in the newspapers fueled my passion for the violin.
I really enjoyed the experience, and from then on I was hooked. I decided to become a professional violinist.
I was accepted into the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien at the young age of 15.Under the guidance of G. Pichler and T. Kakuska from the Alban Berg Quartet, I honed my craft, their musicianship continuing to inspire me today. My musical journey led me to England, where I furthered my studies with Kató Havas OBE. While at the Summer Music Festival in Oxford, under the patronage of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, I gained invaluable experience as a soloist with the Festival Orchestra, receiving critical acclaim for my performance of the Viotti Violin Concerto. I proudly completed my studies with a distinction in a performers diploma (Lic. of the Royal Schools of Music, London) and participated in masterclasses with legendary musicians at the Salzburg Mozarteum.
My journey took me around the world as a member of orchestras like NPO South Africa, and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria.
Collaborating with conductors and musicians of international renown, such as M. Rostropovich, P. Eötvös, Pierre Amoyal, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Pierre Boulez, Adrian Leaper, Fabio Luisi and Simone Young, was truly inspiring.
I continue to perform as a soloist throughout Europe, my performance of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto in particular brought me international recognition.
Today, I am a freelance musician based in Vienna, passionately dividing my time between teaching, solo playing and chamber music, and embarking on interesting tours with orchestras and ensembles.
My concert activities have led me across Europe, China, Japan, Russia and parts of America, allowing me to share the universal language that is music with audiences worldwide.