Name: Maria Craffonara

Born: 1977, Bruneck, Italy

Lives: Vienna

Instrument: Violin

Musical beginnings: in the children's choir as far back as I can remember, then youth choir ... realised my dream of playing the violin when I was 9, later came the piano, from 16 I had a fanatical enthusiasm for gospel music and blues and jazz. Various not very significant band experiences, serious efforts from 18 years old to study singing - jazz or classical???? It was classical at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, then the University of Music in Vienna. Free as a bird in singing and education since April 2006.

Career highlights: Opera debut in December 2005 as Despina in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte at the Augenspieltheater in Hall/Tyrol (below), Carinthian Summer 2006 in Ossiach/Carinthia, Mendelssohn's Elias in Klosterneuburg, June 2007.

Favourite music: depends on my mood - everything apart from death metal and folksy stuff.

Did you know that ... I am the second Ladin-speaker in the band besides Marlene Schuen?

Looking forward to: everything that's new to me!