The ACF DC welcomes the Diatonische Expeditionen for a Christmas Concert at the Embassy of Austria!
This Austrian trio takes the audience on a musical journey from Alpine folk music, jazz and pop to classical music, and presents some of their own compositions. They mix the unique sound of the Styrian accordion with some smooth alto vocals, and the enchanting tones of the harp. Theresa Lehner, Katharina Baschinger and Alexander Maurer are excited to share facets of their Austrian musical souls full of tradition and diversity, and some beautiful Christmas music on their first concert tour in the US. On a diatonic expedition, tradition meets innovation.
The Diatonische Expeditionen are part of NASOM 2023/24 (The New Austrian Sound of Music) and have performed on many renowned European stages.
The concert will be followed by a taste of traditional Austrian mulled wine.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Theresa Lehner (harp and voice) has been deeply connected to music since her early childhood. In her youth, she was taught the hammered dulcimer by Franziska Fleischanderl at the (then) Bruckner Conservatory under the direction of Karl-Heinz Schickhaus. During that time, she also discovered her passion for Alpine folk music. After graduating from the music high school Musikgymnasium Linz, she embarked on a dual path and finalized her dulcimer studies both artistically and pedagogically with Liudmila Beladzed at the Anton Buckner Private University in Linz. Since then, Theresa Lehner has been teaching at the Upper Austrian State Music School, and since 2021 she has been a lecturer for hammered dulcimer at the Academy for Zither and Related String Instruments.
Katharina Baschinger (Styrian accordion) is a musician, presenter and teacher of the Styrian accordion. After five years of training at the Academy for Gifted Students at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, from 2020 to 2024 she studied Styrian harmonica at the Mozarteum University Salzburg (Bachelor of Arts) and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich (Master of Music), as well as jazz composition at the Anton Bruckner Private University. Currently, Katharina is involved in the project applaus.schule, an online platform that enables digital learning of an instrument, and offers a different approache to learning music together. She is also teaching Styrian harmonica at the Bavarian Music Academy Marktoberdorf in cooperation with the Stella Vorarlberg Private University of Music. Katharina Baschinger programs and hosts the weekly radio show “G ́sungen und g ́spielt” on ORF Upper Austria (Austrian Public Broadcast) with a special focus on the nuanced diversity and innovative zeitgeist of Alpine folk music. She finds the creation of new melodies for her favorite instrument particularly fascinating.
Alexander Maurer (Styrian accordion) studied instrumental pedagogy in Linz and Munich after graduating from the Music High School Salzburg. His great love is the Styrian accordion, which is the core and starting point of his artistic, educational and organizational work. Since 2009, Alexander Maurer has been in charge of the Styrian accordion studies at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, and since 2013 also at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. At both institutions, the Styrian accordion has now been successfully established for bachelor and master degrees. As the new director of the Institute for String Instruments, Alexander Maurer manages the departments of string instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass), plucked instruments (guitar, dulcimer, harp, zither), folk music and Styrian accordion at the Anton Bruckner Private University since 2022. He finalized his habilitation as the first associate professor in the subject of Styrian accordion in spring of 2024.
Image © Dora Neubacher