Franziska Strohmayr

Franziska Strohmayr is a versatile violinist, project manager, and lecturer at Mozarteum University in Salzburg. She serves as the manager of the university's Startup- und Gründungsservice (Startup and Founding Service), providing guidance to students, staff, and alumni on entrepreneurship in the arts. Originally from Augsburg, she studied at Mozarteum University with Prof. Martin Mumelter and Prof. Wolfgang Gratzer, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Prof. Jacqueline Ross.

Her educational background includes:

• Mozarteum University, Salzburg - studies with Prof. Martin Mumelter and Prof. Wolfgang Gratzer
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London - studies with Prof. Jacqueline Ross

Strohmayr is renowned for her innovative approach to music performance and cultural projects. She regularly performs as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles at renowned festivals including the ION Nuremberg Music Festival, Ammerseerenade Classical Festival, Carl Orff Festival, and BachZeit Festival Mondsee. Her artistic interests span traditional classical repertoire to interdisciplinary collaborations with light installations and acrobatics. She has a special collaboration with composer Wilfried Hiller, who has dedicated several works to her. Her unique approach includes unconventional concert formats like the "Cultural Biathlon" where she travels by bicycle to perform in various locations, combining artistic expression with sustainable travel.

Her significant contributions to the arts have been recognized with numerous awards:

• 2nd Prize at the Giovani Musicisti Treviso
• 2nd Prize at the Città di Piove di Sacco Padua
• Stadtbergen Cultural Prize
• City of Salzburg's Promotional Prize for Art and Culture for "Women in Salzburg"
• Newcomer of the Year by the PRO SALZBURG Foundation

As the manager of the Startup- und Gründungsservice at Mozarteum University, Strohmayr provides crucial guidance to emerging artists on the business aspects of artistic careers. She advocates for integrating administrative education into music curricula, emphasizing the importance of understanding invoicing, insurance, and taxation for artists. Her own experience with cultural projects like the "Cultural Biathlon" demonstrates practical applications of entrepreneurial thinking in the arts. She has successfully secured funding for her projects through various grant programs and collaborations with churches and cultural organizations.

Strohmayr is actively involved in community building through initiatives like the Kultur-Netz-Messe in Salzburg, where she presented workshops on artistic entrepreneurship. Her interdisciplinary approach brings together musicians, visual artists, and performers in innovative collaborations that challenge traditional concert formats. She is particularly committed to advancing women's roles in the arts and has incorporated this advocacy into her work, including her performance in Rome addressing women's ordination.