TEACHING
Ana Topalovic’s teaching combines her background in instrumental pedagogy and early childhood music education with her experience as a performer in classical and contemporary music.
She is a docent for cello and contemporary playing techniques at the Richard Wagner Konservatorium Wien and runs her own Vienna Cello Studio ↗, where she works with students of different levels.
Her teaching includes both traditional technique and contemporary approaches, with a focus on extended playing techniques, electric cello and the use of live electronics.
In international masterclasses and workshops, she addresses topics such as contemporary performance practice, creative processes, artistic creation and cross-genre collaboration. These formats also include presentations of the NS Design electric cello and practical work with live electronics.
In addition to instrumental teaching, Ana has developed a lecture-performance format that combines performative and discursive elements. These formats aim to contextualize artistic practice and provide insight into specific topics within contemporary music. Current lecture-performances include Breaking the Silence, focusing on women composers from Austria and Cello Pizz & Bits, which addresses expanded approaches to the cello and its repertoire. These have been presented at music universities in Bucharest, Iași, Belgrade, Kragujevac, Ionian University and the Music Academy Sarajevo.
Breaking the Silence
Breaking the Silence is a lecture performance by Ana Topalovic that explores the voices of women composers past and present. Combining live cello performance, live electronics (Multicello), spoken text and projections, the program brings together music and reflection in a performative format.
Based on research, interviews and artistic collaboration, the performance weaves together excerpts of contemporary works with original material, creating a layered dialogue between sound, language and context. It moves between concert, storytelling and critical perspective.
Developed for concert halls, universities and cultural institutions, Breaking the Silence can be presented as a performance or in combination with discussions and workshops.
Cello Pizz & Bits
This lecture performance explores the cello as an evolving instrument in contemporary music practice. Combining acoustic cello, e-cello, extended playing techniques, scripted looping and live electronics, it opens new perspectives on sound, form and performance.
Moving seamlessly between performance and reflection, the format offers insight into artistic processes, the development of new repertoire and the interaction between instrument and technology. Sound examples, excerpts and live demonstrations create a direct connection between concept and practice.
Designed for cellists, string instrumentalists, composers and performers, the lecture can be combined with workshops focusing on creative processes, contemporary techniques and cross-genre collaboration.