Johannes Meissl (Austria)
Johannes Meissl, born in Ried/Austria, studied at mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Gerhart Hetzel, and Hatto Beyerle and graduated with distinction. 1982 he joined the Artis Quartet, and after further studies with the LaSalle Quartet in the US and several competition-prizes the quartet established an international career. Concerts at prestigious series and festivals worldwide, awards for over 40 recordings (Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, Echo, Midem Classics, etc.) and the “Artis Series” at the Musikverein in Vienna (since 1988) bear witness to the international standing of the ensemble.
Meissl also performs in solo recitals and in open chamber projects, and he has achieved success as a conductor.
Professor for chamber music at mdw, he has been Vice Rector of this top-ranking university since October 2019. Prior to this, he headed mdw’s Joseph Haydn Department of Chamber Music and served as president of the Senate at mdw.
Meissl is artistic director of isa – International Summer Academy of mdw and artistic director of ECMA (European Chamber Music Academy), and he gives master classes worldwide. He is very active within the Musethica project, combining intensive performance training with social outreach and community engagement. For more than 30 years, he has been teacher and mentor for generations of young chamber musicians. His students won first prizes at leading international competitions and succeeded in establishing sustainable careers. For a number of his former student ensembles’ acclaimed recordings he served as artistic producer.