Markus Prause

Markus Prause is Professor of Piano Performance at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. His musical philosophy is encapsulated in the statements “Music is the language of the soul and the piano is its medium” and “Music must be alive and never descend to a mechanical routine,” reflecting his emphasis on imagination, vitality, and creative engagement with the score.
His pedagogical focus centers on the Viennese classical tradition, the contrapuntal discipline of J.S. Bach, the refined sonority of Chopin, and the transmission of European musical values within an international educational context. His teaching highlights the importance of cultivating an active musical imagination rather than relying on mechanical repetition.
Prause studied at the Conservatory for Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna with Horst Leichtfried and continued his development through masterclasses and private study with artists including Adam Harasiewicz, Joseph Dichler, Sergei Maltsev, and Walter Fleischmann. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed across Europe, South America, and East Asia, with appearances at venues including the Vienna Musikverein and Konzerthaus. In 2005, he co-founded Music Forum Vienna West with pianist Chen Chin-Lin and serves as its artistic director, supporting concerts at an international level and the development of highly talented young musicians.