Prelude to Vienna: Why I Chose to Intern in a City of Contrasts

Why Vienna?

This summer, I chose to intern in Vienna to immerse myself in a work culture distinct from the one I’ve experienced in the U.S., and to live in a city that elegantly balances historical grandeur with forward-thinking innovation.

Vienna isn’t just the land of Mozart and Beethoven. It’s also a vibrant hub for business, technology, and design. I remember visiting a museum exhibit years ago and standing in front of a Klimt painting, overwhelmed by the idea that one city could preserve so much beauty, and still keep evolving. That feeling stayed with me. When it came time to choose where to go, Vienna felt like more than a destination. It felt like a conversation I wanted to rejoin.

As a BXA dual-degree student at Carnegie Mellon University, studying Decision Science and Violin Performance with a minor in Human-Computer Interaction, I’m fascinated by how seemingly unrelated disciplines can converge. Vienna, where art meets analytics, and history intersects with digital culture, feels like the perfect lab to test that intersection in real time.

My Internship

I’ll be interning at a Vienna-based agency that specializes in YouTube SEO and digital strategy, a space where storytelling, data, and visual creativity meet. The role excites me because it's more than marketing; it’s about understanding how digital platforms are reshaping the way we consume and support the arts.

I hope to explore how tools like SEO and audience analytics can help artists and creators build meaningful communities — and maybe even apply some of those insights to the performing arts world I come from.

Beyond the Work

Vienna also offers me a rare opportunity: to study with professors at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, one of Europe’s most renowned classical institutions. To study violin in the city where so much of the music I grew up playing was born feels like tracing the roots of my own musical identity.

European approaches to performance and pedagogy offer new perspectives, and I’m eager to absorb them — from the phrasing of a Viennese waltz to the quiet intensity of a masterclass in a centuries-old hall. And in between, I plan to dive into the city’s rich cultural scene: operas, museums, jazz cafés, and the occasional slice of Sachertorte.

Vienna, at Street Level

One of the most exciting parts of living abroad is learning how to live abroad. From navigating Vienna’s spotless and beautifully efficient transit system to slowly untangling the German language (work in progress), every small victory feels like a new layer of cultural fluency.

Even seemingly simple routines—ordering coffee, buying groceries, catching the U-Bahn—carry the weight of local texture. And then there are the museums: quiet, brilliant, and bursting with inspiration.

Packing Notes

Packing for two months abroad means walking the fine line between “prepared” and “overpacked.” Here’s what made the cut:

Main Luggage:

• 1 big suitcase + foldable duffle (for weekend trips)
• Everyday clothes (8 shirts, 6 pants, etc.)
• 2 button-downs, 1 sweater, rain jacket
• 2 sets of work clothes
• Concert dress
• Shoes: Reeboks, Asics, sandals, heels

Backpack/Carry-on:

• Laptop, iPad, headphones, chargers
• Snacks, passport, wallet, chapstick, cash
• Small belt bag

Violin:

• Page-turner pedal

Pro tip: Pack less than you think you need, you’ll likely pick up more than expected once you’re there. (Personally, I plan to do a little shopping.)