
Marcus Ratka - composer, musician, educator and musicologist
Co-founder and president of JAM MUSIC LAB - Private University for Jazz and Popular Music Vienna.
All Articles


Branford Marsalis at JAM MUSIC LAB University
March 27th, 2019JAM MUSIC LAB Private University is very happy to welcome saxophonist, composer, music educator and three time Grammy Award Winner Brandford Marsalis.

Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen and the delegation for culture and science visited Israel
February 28th, 2019It was my big pleasure and honour to be part of the Austrian delegation for culture and science and visited the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Weizmann Institute, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and the Central Committee of Jews from Austria.

JAM MUSIC LAB University at the Vienna Science Ball 2019
January 29th, 2019JAM Music Lab was represented by US-partner Jeffrey Levenson, the JAM MUSIC LAB All Star Band with Thomas Gansch, Bertl Mayer and the fabulous students of the University.

Jazz Congress 2019 at Lincoln Center
January 15th, 2019Jeffrey Levenson and myself represented Jam Music Lab at one of the worldwide biggest jazz summits.

Ö1 Awards Another Jazz Scholarship
December 1st, 2018For its second year running the Austrian radio station, Ö1, will be awarding a jazz scholarship as part of its talent exchange initiative.

Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen on an official visit to the Serbian capital Belgrad
October 30th, 2018Again it was my big pleasure and honor to be part of the delegation for culture and science.

Meeting Arvo Pärt in Estonia
June 17th, 2018Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen is on an official visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn.
I am part of the Austrian delegation for culture and science and just met composer Arvo Pärt at the brand new Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa.

Invitation to the Ö1 Jazz Night
June 12th, 2018It is my big pleasure to be invited to the Ö1 Jazz night and to present my music.

Saxophonist Robert Unterköfler - Winner of the 1st Ö1 Jazz Scholarship
June 9th, 2018
John Beasley wins „Spheres of a Genius“, a composition competition by JAM MUSIC LAB and Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna
June 1st, 2018The prize-winning work „Simplexity“ will be premiered on June 7th, 2018 in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein.

Meeting Herbie Hancock at International Jazz Day in St. Petersburg
May 10th, 2018Many thanks to Jeffrey Levenson who invited Ulli Sych, head of the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and myself to this inspiring event, organized by the United Nations and UNESCO.

Interview with guitar legend James Burton
January 27th, 2018Born in 1939, James Burton was shaping the sounds of Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues and Country Music. He played with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, John Denver, Bruce Springsteen and many others, and became one of the most influential guitarist in the 20th century.

Ö1 and JAM MUSIC LAB University are awarding a Jazz Scholarship
January 12th, 2018Dr. Andreas Felber, head of the jazz department of the Austrian radio station Ö1 and myself created the idea of this new scholarship.

Invitation to the Honorary Commitee of Vienna Ball of Science
December 20th, 2017Science in Vienna is large and diverse: 215.000 students and researchers (= 12.5% of pop.) at 20 public and private universities plus research institutes, museums and funding agencies. The Vienna Science Ball represents Vienna’s science and research community in its excellence and diversity.

JAM MUSIC LAB Radio Sessions - a new Show at Radio Superfly!
November 17th, 2017I am very happy to host a monthly radio show from now on.
The Jam Music Lab Radio Sessions is broadcasted every first Sunday of the month at 9:00 p.m. and is a co-production of Radio Superfly and JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz