Mark’s Next Step: High School for Music and the Arts

After completing four years at the Vienna Boys’ Choir Gymnasium, Mark is continuing his education at BORG Hegelgasse 12 in Vienna, where he has been accepted into the school’s Polyästhetik programme.

Admission required an entrance examination, which Mark successfully passed. From September 2022, he will continue developing his skills in several artistic disciplines, with a particular focus on music, acting and performance.

“The entrance exam was something completely new and exciting for me. I didn’t have much time to prepare, but I wanted to show the jury who I am and what I can do. Once the exam started, I wasn’t nervous. I felt well prepared and was able to enjoy the experience.”

The entrance examination covered several artistic disciplines and gave Mark the opportunity to present different sides of his creativity.

“I prepared a monologue from Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’, played the piano and sang one of my own compositions, as well as another song that was assigned to me. I also brought around 15 of my artworks.”

The examination also included movement and acting exercises.

“I was given choreography to perform and an additional acting task where I had to improvise a character spontaneously. That was probably one of the most interesting parts of the whole exam.”

Mark prepared for the entrance examination with the support of actress and choreographer Ivi Urban, who also studied at Hegelgasse.

“I’m very grateful to Ivi Urban for helping me prepare and for working with me on the details. Her own experience at the school, as well as her experience as an actress and choreographer, helped me a lot.”

For Mark, choosing Hegelgasse is also an opportunity to explore two artistic fields that are becoming increasingly important to him.

“I chose this school because I also want to develop as an actor. Music and acting are my two greatest passions, and I’m still not sure which one I will eventually choose. Maybe I don’t have to choose. Perhaps I can find a way to do both.”

For now, Mark is looking forward to beginning this new chapter in September and discovering where these different artistic interests will take him.