Alma Deutscher Begins Studies at Vienna University of Music 

The 16-year-old British composer, violinist, and pianist recently began her conducting degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

(Photo credit: Alex Nightingale Smith)

Alma began playing the piano at age two and violin at age three. By 2015 at age 10,  premieres were performed of her Violin Concerto, her symphonic work “Dance of the Solent Mermaids,” and her opera “Cinderella.” 

“As some of you may know, I have always been home-schooled, but now that I am 16, this is about to change,” she wrote on her Facebook. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing life at university.”

She describes the opportunity as a “huge privilege,” especially to study with distinguished Austrian conductor Johannes Wildner, who was once also a member of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Composers like Gustav Mahler attended the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) in addition to conductors Zubin Mehta, Claudio Abbado, and Kirill Petrenko.

For Alma, this degree is a new venture but she finds it necessary to interpret her orchestral music on her own. She also plans to begin a concert series wherein she will conduct her original works.

“It’s incredibly exciting for me to go in this new direction of leading an orchestra,” she wrote. “I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful conductors, who have interpreted my own music very beautifully.”

Her compositions also include those for violin, piano, and chamber ensembles. Her first piano solo album, “From My Book of Melodies,” was released by Sony Classical and is published by G. Schirmer. 

Conductor Zubin Mehta described Deutscher as “one of the greatest musical talents today.” Similarly, Sir Simon Rattle told the BBC: “I don’t know that I’ve come across anyone of that age with quite such an astonishing range of gifts. I haven’t really seen anything like it.”

She has featured in several international newspapers. Additionally, her YouTube channel subscribers amount to over 135,000. Alma also recently signed to Columbia Artists Management in New York City, for management representation in North America.

Alma plays on a 1683 “Bucher” Stradivarius violin on a loan administered by the Tarisio Trust. She also plays on one made by Peter Greiner in 2015.