Gstaad Conducting Academy
Happy Birhtday!
The Gstaad Conducting Academy 2024 is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Visionaries such as Neeme Järvi, Manfred Honeck, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and exceptional soloists like Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Anastasia Kobekina have significantly shaped the academy. Thanks to the extensive expertise of professors Jaap van Zweden and Johannes Schlaefli, the academy has grown into a globally recognized masterclass for emerging conductors. In the latest application round, submissions poured in from over 51 countries!
At a glance
The Gstaad Conducting Academy offers young and promising conductors the unique opportunity in Europe to work together with highly professional orchestras for several weeks, as well as with conductor personalities who are renowned worldwide.
Jaap van Zweden, the Musical Director of the New York Philharmonic, has significantly influenced the Gstaad Conducting Academy since his first appointment in the year 2017 and is directing it already for the sixth time in 2024.
As "Head of Teaching", Johannes Schlaefli will support the development of the participants throughout the Gstaad Conducting Academy.
The Gstaad Festival Orchestra (GFO), as the centrepiece of the Academy, is assuming the role of the "instrument" - at the highest level. Through active participation in the pedagogical process, it is a defining aspect of the further education measure.
The masterclass is open to the public.
Every week there is an Academy concert by the Gstaad Conducting Academy under the direction of the participants.
Enjoy the great Jaap van Zweden conducting the Gstaad Festival Orchestra with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 at the Gstaad Festival Tent - in full length on: www.gstaaddigitalfestival.ch
At a glance
Dates: 03.08.- 14.08.2024, Gstaad Festival Tent
Professors:
Jaap van Zweden, Professor Gstaad Conducting Academy (11.08. - 14.08.)
Johannes Schlaefli, Head of Teaching (03.8. - 14.8.)
Peter Biloen, Assistant Professor Gstaad Conducting Academy (11.08. - 14.08.)
Gstaad Festival Orchestra (Orchestra in Residence), Vlad Stǎnculeasa (concert master)
Works by Beethoven, Cherubini, Debussy, Mozart, Bruckner and Mendelssohn
Registrations can be submitted from December 2023 up to 31.01.2024 by means of the application form.
Jaap van Zweden
Over the past decade, Jaap van Zweden has been an international presence on three continents. Currently, he is Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, a post he began in 2018, and Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic since 2012.
Jaap van Zweden, the Dutch conductor had already held the reins of the Gstaad Conducting Academy in 2017 and 2018.
Photo: Bert Hulselmans
Johannes Schlaefli
As professor of Conducting at the Zurich University of the Arts since 1999, Johannes Schlaefli has developed Switzerland‘s most prestigious conducting class, now seen as one of the most successful and sought-after conducting schools in Europe. He has become one of the world‘s most highly regarded conducting teachers. Invitations to the Juilliard School New York, the Sibelius Academy Helsinki, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Music-Academies in Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, Weimar, Oslo and the Aspen Music Festival.