The 2016 Austrian World Music Awards were revealed December 4, 2015. Federspiel won first prize. Alma took was awarded the second prize. Meanwhile, Großmütterchen Hatz Salon Orkestar won the audience award. The award ceremony took place at Porgy & Bess jazz club in Vienna.
Federspiel (1st prize)
The seven-piece brass and wind ensemble Federspiel was founded in 2004 in Krems an der Donau. Federspiel combines indigenous Austrian folk music with world music elements. The musicians come from various musical backgrounds and countries.
Band members include Frederic Alvarado-Dupuy on clarinet, vocals; Simon Zöchbauer on trumpet, flugelhorn, zither, vocals; Philip Haas on trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Ayac Jimenez-Salvador on trumpet flugelhorn, vocals; Thomas Winalek on bass trumpet and vocals; Matthias Werner on trombone, vocals; and Roland Eitzinger on tuba, vocals.
More about the band: www.feder-spiel.at
Alma (2nd prize)
Alma features young musicians who mix ancient traditional melodies, yodeling, new arrangements of folk songs, and new material as well. The lineup includes Julia Lacherstorfer on violin, vocals; Evelyn Mair on violin, vocals; Matteo Haitzmann on violin, vocals; Marie-Theres Stickler on harmonica, Shruti Box, vocals; Marlene Lacherstorfer on bass, harmonium, vocals.
More details at www.almamusik.at
The Hatz Salon Orkestar Grossmütterchen (Audience Award)
The Hatz Salon Orkestar Grossmütterchen is led by accordionist and vocalist Franziska Hatz. The ensemble brings together jazz, klezmer, Balkan folk tunes, pop and ska. The lineup features Franziska Hatz on accordion, vocals; Richie Winkler on saxophone, clarinet; Simon Schellnegger on viola; and Julian Pieber on drums.
The Austrian World Music Awards were founded in 2004. They were created to provide world music artists the recognition and publicity they deserve. In 2014, IG World Music Austria took over the organization and presentation of the Awards.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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