Maria Estella
Born 1975 in St. Pölten and raised in Ober-Grafendorf.
I began to learn piano at the age of 6. From the 6th term at the “Wirtschaftskundliches
Realgymnasium der Engl. Fräulein” in St. Pölten onwards, I also studied music at
the “Konservatorium für Kirchenmusik St. Pölten”. Playing the organ was my favourite.
I reached the climax of my career as organist in 1997, when I performed my own concert.
But when I began to study Environmental Engineering and Water Economy at the “Universität für Bodenkultur” (University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences) in Vienna, I did not have too much time to practice. So I discovered with pain that I had less and less free time to perform as organist and singer in the choir.
Once I ended my studies, I went to Spain, to gain new experiences during an internship. Granada became my new home. My colleagues on site initiated me into the Andalusian secrets of nature and life. I wanted to stay in Spain and took a job in a company of water experts.
During the weekends I explored the provinces close to Madrid. What I liked most was visiting my friends in Andalusía. As a country girl, I missed nature, which I was unable to find in the large city.
After two and a half years, I followed the call of my roots and went back to Austria. Here, I began to work as Project Coordinator for the LIFE-Nature Project “Lafnitz”. Currently, I am working as expert within the administration for Hydraulic Works and Water Protection within the government of Lower Austria.
To achieve a balance to my work as an engineer, music always continued playing a role in my heart: piano, organ and church music, in Spain Latino-percussion and Flamenco-Cajón, in Graz Flamenco dancing – then, in 2008, I discovered the influence of sound on people.
Since then, I enjoyed my training for sound treatment with Peter Charles Nezval (Vienna). Since 2009, I have been giving sound massages and organizing sound trips.
Toning and overtone singing are a heavenly pleasure for me. So, I was especially lucky to sing with the “Freischwebende Obertonchor” under Markus Michael Riccabona.
2009 was the year where I had the idea for the “Wüstenklänge” during a trip to Jordan. Since this trip, I have been studying Arabic and staying in contact with my dear Bedouin friends.
I am very happy that, in the fall semester of 2010, I was admitted to the „Social Work“ programm at the college of higher education in St.Pölten, where I am pursuing my studies while working full time.
As part of my studies I began working in youth
mentoring. There, I am concerned with children and juveniles which are mostly from Afghanistan. I truly enjoy this experience and I perceive it as something wonderful and very rewarding.