Braver than before - Mariia Tkachenko

In March 2022, she moved to the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, where she continued her acting studies at the Thomas Bernhard Institute and took part in several theatre productions. In spring 2025, Mariia moved to Vienna to gain further professional experience.

How did you come to Salzburg to study at the Mozarteum University? 

I spent my life so far in , graduated from a music school with a degree in violin and classical singing and studied acting for two and a half years at the I. K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television. Then came the war. My life suddenly stopped from one day to the next. There were no more studies, all my friends were gone, nothing was the same as before. At that moment I felt an incredible emptiness, I didn't know what to do with my life. There was no perspective, no future. So I seized the first opportunity without thinking twice. At my university in , there were connections to other European universities. I had initially applied to the Bavarian Theatre Academy August Everding, but there were no more places there. I got in touch with the Mozarteum from there. Christoph Lepschy was my first point of contact in Salzburg. There were already students from Ukraine at the Mozarteum with whom I spoke on the phone. They told me what you can do at the Mozarteum and what the conditions are like. I was on my way the next day. The decision was made within a day. I left Ukraine a month after the war began.

Was it always clear to you that you would follow an artistic path?

Not really. My school grades were always very good and I probably have a talent for science. Maths and chemistry were always easy for me and I took part in many competitions, which I often won. My teachers saw more of a scientific future for me. When I decided to go into acting, many were very disappointed. But it is the art that is closest to my heart. My mum wanted me to study directing, but I wasn't ready after school.

You have already worked on several films and stage projects. Which projects were these? 

That was something I was born with. I had my first roles as a child. My parents both worked in TV productions, my mum was . I was five years old when I made my first film and at the age of seven or eight I played a pretty big role in a TV series. As a teenager, I acted in a few crime series and that's how I gained my first experience.

You took part in Romeo and Juliet and other productions in Salzburg, right?

Yes, that was an acting production at the Thomas Bernhard Institute. I also worked on ‘Wolken.Heim’ by Elfriede Jelinek in January 2024. My first acting job in Austria was an acting role in the opera ‘Stabat Mater Furiosa’ at the Aspekte Festival 2024. I have the greatest passion for musical theatre and if I could choose one path, it would be this one. No matter where, on or behind the stage. I find working with the conductor, the orchestra and collaborating with so many people very exciting. Music is more of a hobby at the moment, but I have also started to write songs and there are various concerts by the Ukrainian community, for example in Munich or Vienna, where I performed a small programme of songs. I also wrote music for a Ukrainian writer for her reading. I am also trying to take the next steps musically.

You've also had the chance to get a taste of festival life. What did you do there?

I was an extra in ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ at the Salzburg Festival in 2024. That was the greatest theatre experience I've ever had! It also gave me a great passion for opera. I then did a short internship at the opera studio at the Mozarteum with Alexander von Pfeil and have already applied for further internships at various theatres, unfortunately without success so far.

Apart from the art, what were the biggest surprises for you in Salzburg?

The language, of course. It was a long and difficult path. In my first year at the Mozarteum, when I was still a ‘guest student’ together with other Ukrainian students, we were allowed to play in English and the lessons were also in English. At the same time, of course, we attended German courses. After this year, when we were accepted as regular students, we had to do everything in German. Conversations between students also had to be conducted in German. For my first project at the Thomas Bernhard Institute, we had to write the play ourselves in German. That involved a lot of conceptual discussions. Five hours of conceptual rehearsals every day, lots of discussions - it was incredibly difficult. But it was a huge boost for my German. After the project, I really started to speak German. It was like a shock therapy that worked. I also consumed German media such as films and music.

And what was everyday life like? Was there a culture shock? 

Yes, the fact that the shops are closed on Sundays was a culture shock. When I decided to move to Salzburg, I knew nothing about the city. For me, Salzburg was just Mozart's home town, that's all I knew. I also didn't know, for example, that Salzburg is near the mountains. That was also a shock, especially because a few years ago I had a dream in which I was living in the mountains. That was strange. Today, after three years, I'm in love with the nature in and around Salzburg, I've also been hiking a lot (laughs). The nice thing about Salzburg is that everything is easy to get to, everything is close, even by bike. Cycling in Vienna would be very dangerous due to the heavy traffic and the long distances. I also took my bike with me to Vienna, I can no longer do without it (laughs).

You found accommodation with a young violinist, also an alumna of the Mozarteum. Was that an advantage?

Yes, because I felt very comfortable with Franziska Strohmayr. I am very happy that I was able to stay with her. She is such a wonderful person and as she is also an artist, we got on very well and were always interested in each other's work. It was really sad to say goodbye and the separation wasn't easy for me. It's a strange feeling to leave this part of my life behind - but we will meet again.

What will your future in Vienna look like?

I'm applying for jobs in various fields. My interests range from acting to directing. I'm slowly beginning to understand how theatre works. However, I currently earn my money in the museum and plan to try my hand as a tour guide.

Do you also want to continue your vocal training?

Yes, actually I do. I sing very well for an actress. But not enough for a musical actress or for musical theatre. I keep thinking about taking further singing lessons. I would like to keep many options open.

What are your hopes for the future?

Above all, I would like to find a job in the theatre. Another point is contact with local people. In the last three years, it has been a little difficult for me to make enough contacts. Although I now speak the language, there is still an invisible barrier between me and other people who live here. That is strange. I would like to try to build up a network of local contacts and friends in Vienna. I had a large network in my home town and I want to try to do the same here. For me, home means having lots of people around me.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

I think if there hadn't been a Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, I would never have gone abroad. I had only been abroad once before for a few days. Three years ago, the very idea of studying abroad frightened me. The consequences of the war for Ukrainians are very paradoxical and unjust. On the one hand, thousands of people have lost their lives, but on the other, many people have been given new opportunities. I strive to make good use of my opportunity. I am stronger, more flexible and braver than I thought that things that seemed impossible until recently are possible.