CLAUDIA ALEXANDRA ARNOLD ZIEGELER

Born in New York City to Austrian parents who both attended Vienna's renowned Musikakademie, Claudia was also partly raised and educated in Vienna and Mississippi when her father, active internationally as an ENT specialist, was called to UMMC to develop the faculty of otolaryngology. After attending boarding school in Vienna, she went on to Millsaps College in Jackson. There, as an undergraduate, she focused on the humanities and continued at Millsaps for a graduate MBA degree. Her early exposure to music and the arts deeply influenced her, fueling a passion for supporting cross-cultural endeavors. This passion was evident in her contributions, ranging from supporting Jackson's International Ballet Competition during her college years to participating in the Opera Guild in New Orleans as a junior member while also helping to develop a venture to export Louisiana crawfish to Europe.

Back in Vienna, Claudia worked with EFS Consulting and the private banking division of Schoellerbank, immersing herself in the rich cultural life the city offers. After marrying a German diplomat, with whom she has raised three sons, Claudia's life became a tapestry of global experiences with postings to Latin America, the US, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. While employed as a business development manager for Volkswagen of America in the Latin American region and later in Ethiopia with Sefarian & Co., her engagement with cultural activities continued unabated. She collaborated with the World Monuments Fund, supporting Addis Wubet in heritage preservation, and led the Berlin office of the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft, a German African business association. She is also associated with the Maerz Contemporary gallery.

Currently residing in Vienna, Claudia finds solace and expression in writing about art and life, weaving together the diverse threads of her cross-cultural experiences. In a remarkable blend of her business acumen and love for the arts, Claudia played a pivotal role in coordinating the first Nova Orchester Wien performance in Vienna on July 15, 2020. This performance, a digital one for the G20 economic summit, stands as a testament to her ability to bridge the worlds of art and commerce, further highlighting her multifaceted career.