On April 26, the Sochi Dialogue Forum, together with the German Studies Club of the MGIMO Student Scientific Society, organized an in-person meeting between students and Austrian conductor Wolfgang Scheidt. The idea for the meeting emerged during a teleconference held as part of the Austria Week project at MGIMO.

The event took place at the Turgenev Library-Reading Room. In a warm and informal setting, the maestro and students discussed a wide range of topics. Wolfgang Scheidt spoke about the “behind-the-scenes” aspects of the Voice of Music project, which had concluded in Yaroslavl the day before, where he worked with young conductors. The conversation gradually moved from specific details to broader themes: how to preserve culture in the modern world, why contemporary music is so important today, and how closely intertwined the artistic traditions of Russian and Austrian classical composers are.

Particularly inspiring for the audience were the maestro’s reflections on choosing one’s professional path. Wolfgang Scheidt reminded students of the importance of not being afraid to search for their true calling, even if that path may seem uncertain.

We would like to thank all participants for their genuine interest, and express our special gratitude to Wolfgang Scheidt for his openness and inspiration. We also extend our thanks to the German Studies Club of the MGIMO Student Scientific Society for their cooperation and support. As this meeting clearly demonstrated, cultural diplomacy continues to bring people together, turning dialogue from online interaction into real-life connection.

• RU:  Из онлайна в реальность: студенты МГИМО встретились с маэстро Вольфгангом Шайдтом
• DE:  Vom Online-Treffen zur Realität: MGIMO-Studierende trafen sich mit Maestro Wolfgang Scheidt