Voices of Vienna Scholarship Recipient Performs at Vienna's Musikverein

Yuwen Sun, who is completing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in the University of Minnesota's School of Music, was the 2024 recipient of the Voices of Vienna scholarship to perform in a production of Mozart's Così fan tutte. The opera was staged as part of the Vienna Opera Festival at the Musikverein in Vienna. 

With the generous support from the Center for Austrian Studies and Voices of Vienna Scholarship, I spent three unforgettable weeks at the Vienna Opera Academy, participating in the performance of Così fan Tutte. This incredible experience not only allowed me to work with world-class instructors but also to collaborate with talented musicians from around the globe. Immersed in the rich musical heritage of Vienna, I have truly improved my vocal and stagecraft skills, deepened my understanding of operatic traditions, and broadened my horizon of classical music in general. The systematic training and exposure to diverse artistic perspectives have also profoundly shaped my artistic journey, and I am retuning back to University of Minnesota inspired and more committed than ever to my degree program of doctor of musical arts.

About the Voices of Vienna Scholarship: The Voices of Vienna scholarship was established by Kathryn and Wilbur Keefer in honor of Professor Emeritus William Wright, founding director of the Center for Austrian Studies (1978). The scholarship is administered by the School of Music and the Center for Austrian Studies in alternating years. To support the Center's scholarship initiatives, please visit our website to discover ways to donate.