Vienna Philharmonic Society and Salzburg Festival Society Celebrate Festival’s 100th Anniversary

From New York to Salzburg Austria: Marifé Hernández and Joel Bell hosted a dinner at the Sacher Hotel’s Wintergarten on August 12^th reuniting friends of the Vienna Philharmonic Society USA and Salzburg Festival Society USA for a celebration of Salzburg Festival’s 100th Anniversary. 

Among the guests were violinist Hannah Cho of New York and trombonist Kelton Koch of Texas – two members of the first graduating class of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Academy and playing with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Academy, a longtime ambition of the Orchestra, was founded in the summer of 2018 to train talented young musicians in the unique musical style of the Vienna Philharmonic.  Significant annual funding from the Vienna Philharmonic Society USA made the dream a reality and ensured the inclusion of American students in every biennial class.

A pianist serenaded guests during cocktails and the fine continental meal that finished with a traditional Austrian dessert and specialty of the Hotel, sacher savarin (biscuit and fresh fruits soaked in rum, doused with vanilla cream).

Members of the Board of the Vienna Philharmonic Society joining Marifé (who serves as Chairman) and Joel included Maria and Matthias Ederer, Caroline and Max Jahn, Theodora and Albert Simons, Pamela and Sedgwick Ward, as well as Helga Rabl-Stadler (President, Salzburg Festival), Lukas Crepaz (Executive Director, Salzburg Festival), Nabil Chartouni (President, Salzburg Festival Society USA), Joseph Bartning (Executive Director, Salzburg Festival Society USA), Daniel Froschauer (VPO Chairman) and Anna Knopp, Michael Bladerer (VPO General Manager), Catherine Adler and Helmut Koller, Katharine and Wolfgang Aulitzky,  Dr’s. Mary and Augustine Choi, Angelina Eschauzier, Carole and John French,  Elisabeth Guertler (Managing Director, Hotel Sacher), Neline Heindl, Dr’s Margaret and Ananth Natarajan, Jay Nordlinger, Dr. Michael Stewart, Meg and Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, Dorothée Volpini and Francis O’Neil, Ambassador Helene von Damm and Franck Laverdin, Thea von Oswald Flanigan, and Ferdinand von Strantz.