We are delighted at the opportunity to support the prizewinners Sara Magenta Schneyer (soprano) and Sebastian Wartig (baritone) in the coming months through concert promotion and funding.
Short biographies on the two artists can be found below:
Sara Magenta Schneyer
Sara Magenta Schneyer was born in 1988 in Schweinfurt, attended a secondary school (Gymnasium) in Bamberg with an emphasis on music education and studied singing at the Hochschule für Musik C. M. von Weber, University of Music, in Dresden under Prof. Christiane Junghanns. She was also a soloist in the Dresdner Kammerchor (Dresden Chamber Choir) under Hans-Christoph Rademann. After further studies in France and Berlin, Ms Schneyer began performing throughout Europe in a wide variety of musical styles. Since 2012 she has also been active in the support of young musicians in Berlin. In 2014 she was awarded a sponsorship prize by the Johann Sebastian Bach Foundation.
At the national singing competition Bundeswettbewerb Gesang, her interpretation of the soprano aria Zerfließe, mein Herze from the St. John Passion, BWV 245, demonstrated impressive vocal colour, great stylistic assurance and technical fluency.
Sebastian Wartig
Sebastian Wartig was born in 1989 in Dresden, sang in the Dresdner Kreuzchor (Choir of the Church of the Holy Cross) from 1998 to 2008 under Kreuzkantor (Head of Music) Prof. Roderich Kreile, finished his studies at the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig (Hochschule für Musik und Theater, or HMT) under Prof. Roland Schubert in the summer of 2013 and is a member (bass-baritone) of the Junges Ensemble of the Semperoper Dresden.
2011 Prizewinner at the Albert Lortzing competition, scholarship from the Ad Infinitum Foundation of the Freundeskreis der HMT Leipzig (Friends of the HMT)
2012 2nd prize at the Robert Schumann competition in Zwickau
2013 Recipient of the Rudolf Mauersberger Scholarship in Dresden
2014 1st prize at the 43rd national singing competition Bundeswettbewerb Gesang in Berlin and recipient of the sponsorship prize from the Johann Sebastian Bach Foundation
At the competition, Sebastian Wartig performed the aria Großer Herr, o starker König from the Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 with impressive technical virtuosity, a beautiful voice and great inner strength.
We hope that both prizewinners will continue unwaveringly on their musical paths, keep their passion for music alive and always find appreciative audiences.
In 2014, a total of 234 young singers from all over Germany took part in the Bundeswettbewerb Gesang in Berlin, Europe’s largest singing competition. Of them, 61 were nominated for the final rounds. The jury members, Ingeborg Danz and Tobias Berndt, observed the main and junior competitions for us and recommended the soprano Sara Magenta Schneyer and the baritone Sebastian Wartig for the special prize from our Foundation. We congratulate both prizewinners!
Concert organisers are invited to contact the Boards of the Johann Sebastian Bach Foundation to discuss performance opportunities and financing requirements for the two prize-winning artists. We look forward to hearing from you!