Andrea Fraenzel was born and grew up in Gmunden, upper Austria.
Since her childhood she was learning guitar and was awarded a first prize in upper Austria’s young musician competition „Prima la musica“ in the category classical guitar solo performance in 1998.
Andrea studied classical guitar and bass at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and took private lessons with Peter Herbert, Thomas Stempkowski and Juan Garcia-Herreros.
Playing both acoustic and electric bass, she is a versatile artist and has worked with artists of almost every genre: pop, soul, rock, singer/songwriter, jazz, improvised music, world music and classical music.
Andrea is the first musician from Austria who has been accepted into the Contemporary Performance Master’s Program of the Berklee College of Music – Valencia Campus from which she graduated summa cum laude in July 2014 and was honoured with the „Outstanding Scholar Award“.
Apart from studying she was invited to play with Victor Mendoza and Steve Houghton in Taiwan and toured in Spain with Christiane Karam.
She has performed in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, Russia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
In 2015 she learned to play bass harmonica and joined "Mundharmonika Quartett Austria" (harmonica quartet Austria). The group is vice-world champion and a regular guest at harmonica festivals throughout Europe.
In 2016 and 2017 she toured Russia with Austrian-Russian rockband "Princess Angine" as a bass substitute.
In 2018 she spent three months in India at Global Music Institute (GMI), a Berklee Global Partner, teaching bass, ensemble, harmony and eartraining.
In 2019 she also worked as musical director for a tribute band to the Woodstock era and played in contemporary opera production "Der Reigen” by composer Bernhard Lang. The adaptation from Arthur Schnitzler’s theatre play (“Hands around” in English) blends the sound of a string orchestra with a jazz trio. This production of "Neue Oper Wien" was shown at prestigious festivals for classical music, “Bregenzer Festspiele” and “Wien Modern”.
When having time for music of her own she dedicates it to her singer/songwriter solo project “Sounds of Dea”, having performed in Spain and Austria, and her own jazz band.
In 2020 she returned to India to teach again at Global Music Institute. While the outbreak of the corona virus cut short her stay in India and made her return to Austria she has taught online the spring 20, October 20 and March 21 term.
Andrea also teaches bass and guitar at Musikwerkstatt, a Viennese music school founded by Ursula Wex member of the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2021 she joined Austrian klezmer jazz band “Großmütterchen Hatz” a band that is a regular guest on stages and festivals throughout the country.
Performances and collaborations with:
Victor Mendoza (MEX), Christiane Karam (LIB), Mariano Steimberg (ARG), Steve Houghton (US), Sebastian Laverde (COL), SAAVEDRA (COL), GuGabriel, Joey Green (US), Celia Mara (BRA), Großmütterchen Hatz, Mundharmonika Quartett Austria, Satuo, ArtAnno, Louisa Specht, Die Sistas, Harald Huber & Donaukrach, Blaumarot, Kabarettgipfelband, Mary Broadcast Band, Princess Angine, Neue Oper Wien, Chris Gelbmann, Daniela Flickentanz, Ernst Molden, Birgit Denk und die Novaks, Juci Janoska, Blaumarot, Jörg Leichtfried, Elly Wright, Julia Schreitl, Mara Kolibri, Tahereh Nourani, Ursula Baumgartl, Alois Bauerstatter, Martin Spitzer, Judith Reiter, Ludwig Ebner, Alwin Miller, Alfred Bäck, 4stimmig, SOLO, Hotel Palindrone, W.i.t.Ch., VerAndA, Karin Vadon, Lukas Vendl, Bruno Pisek, Christoph Rabl, Monika Ciernia-Sorondo, Wolfgang Steubl, Helmut Steubl, Barbara Helfgott & Rondo Vienna, Jazzophoniker, Vienna Groove GmbH, and others
Education
2013 to 14:
Berklee College of Music: Contemporary Performance Master’s Progam; graduating summa cum laude as a master of music
Andrea studied acoustic and electric bass with Mario Rossy and Alain Pérez
Classes and ensembles with: Victor Mendoza, Mariano Steimberg, Perico Sambeat, Polo Ortí, Ben "Encanti" Cantil, Stephen Webber, Gael Hedding
Workshops with Eddie Gomez, Ira Coleman, Miguel Zenon, Hans Glawischnig, Chico Pinheiro, Yoron Israel, Christiane Karam, Patrice Rushen, Pat Pattinson
Before, Andrea followed an intense study program at the Unversity of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria, as follows
2002 to 08:
Musical education: voice and instruments with a major in bass (with Albert Kreuzer und Willi Langer);
graduating cum laude as a bachelor of arts
1998 to 06:
Secondary school teaching diploma in Musical education and French;
graduation as a magistra artium
1999 to 05:
Musical education: voice and instruments with major in guitar (classical music);
graduating cum laude as a bachelor of arts
Workshops with Achim Tang, Hans Strasser
Private studies with Peter Herbert, Thomas Stempkowski and Juan Garcia-Herreros
Currently taking private lessons on classical double bass with Werner Fleischmann