Until now, David Garrett was considered ‘the’ devil’s violinist. 13-year-old Philip Schuszter from Loretto in Burgenland could soon overtake him. The little boy is extremely talented, plays the violin like an adult and is already making waves abroad. The “Krone” visited him at home.
Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart or Paganini: just as these exceptional violinists once did, Philip Schuszter also wants to make history. In fact, the 13-year-old student who attends the Theresianum in Eisenstadt and is a passionate violinist has the best chances. After all, he has been studying violin for seven years in the gifted course at the Art University of Graz with the renowned professor Regina Brandstätter from Oberschützen. When he started, he was her youngest student and the youngest student in Burgenland.
The child prodigy knows exactly what he wants
“It all started when I was five years old. My father then played the elf dance for me. I was also allowed to delete a note. I was so excited that he immediately sent me to the lessons of his former violin teacher Georg Rauchbauer. After three months I had my first public performance. That was amazing! I’ve loved the spotlight ever since. That’s where I am at my best,” says the young classical music lover, who also achieves top results in mathematics and English.
His mother Elke – she is a legal assistant and office manager at the Mattersburg court – nods affirmatively: “Philipp is very musical. He was singing before he could talk. The first time I played him the summer theme from ‘The Four Seasons’, he ran around the table like crazy. If he had not discovered his love for this instrument, he would probably have become hyperactive because he already had an intellectual disability in kindergarten.”
Fateful meeting
At the age of six, Philip took part in the music competition “Prima la musica” for the first time and immediately took first place. When he expressed a desire to continue practicing immediately after his performance, Regina Brandstätter, who happened to be there, became aware of the young maestro’s potential and forward drive and immediately took him under her wing. Since then, Philip commutes to Oberschützen once a week for one-on-one lessons.
This obviously pays off. At the age of nine, he shone during his first major performance at a gala in the sold-out Haydn Hall of Esterházy Palace – as a soloist with quartet accompaniment. The child prodigy is now also causing a stir internationally. Philip won first prize at the American International Music Competition last year, but also this year at the Beethoven Music Competition in Vienna and the Euterpe Music Award in Munich.
The foundation for a top career has been laid
“Since the Corona pandemic, many international competitions unfortunately only take place online, but that also has advantages. You simply submit a video, which is then assessed according to a points system. These videos are recorded live during concerts, class evenings or in churches. The competition is fierce. In addition to the US, there are also many gifted virtuosos from China, Japan, Indonesia, Poland, Ukraine and Turkey,” explains father Michael, who, in addition to his legal work, also took on the student’s time management.
For the past two years, Philip has also been part of Camerata Prima, an orchestral project to promote talent under the auspices of the Vienna Philharmonic. Orchestral pieces are rehearsed with the children at the usual high level. Also Mozart in the original tempo! Philip can easily maintain that.
Could David Garrett be packing soon?
“As part of this project, there have already been performances with well-known string players such as Harald Krumpöck and Yevgenij Andrusenko,” he says enthusiastically and talks about the Wimmer-Gymnasium in Oberschützen, where he wants to transfer so that he can immediately take more violin lessons. “After high school, I really want to study violin and also be part of the Philharmonic Orchestra. I would also like to form my own quartet.”
Can he also imagine becoming a pop star and heartthrob like David Garrett? ‘Hmmmm… He was my idol. But he doesn’t have to be afraid of me, because his music is no longer my thing,” the teenager says confidently.
That’s his plan B
And what if his dream falls apart or his love for the violin disappears for some unknown reason, for example, if in the distant future the sky is full of violins because of a young woman and all he wants to do is play her? ‘I have already forged a Pan B for this case. Then I’ll become a lawyer, just like everyone else in our family.’
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
