Conducting Academy

The 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 Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, has significantly influenced the Conducting Academy since his first appointment in the year 2017 and is directing it already for the seventh time in 2025.

Johannes Schlaefli is Head of Teaching and he will accompany the development of the participants throughout the entire duration of the 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.

This year, the Conducting Academy will be complemented by the Biel Solothurn Symphony Orchestra, which will be available during the central part of the programme.

The masterclass is open to the public.

Every week there is an Academy concert by the 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

Registrations can be submitted from December 2025 up to 31.01.2026 by means of the application form.

Jaap van Zweden is currently Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director designate of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. From 2018–19 to 2023–24 he served as the 26th Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. He was also Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 2012 to 2024. Van Zweden has appeared as a guest conductor with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Orchestre de Paris, the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Photo: Bert Hulselmans

Biography Jaap van Zweden

Johannes Schlaefli is Artistic Director of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Alumni Symphony Orchestra Zurich, and Principal Guest Professor of Conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt. As one of the most internationally sought after conducting pedagogues, he works with leading institutions such as the Juilliard School, the Sibelius Academy and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He is also Lead Professor of the Gstaad Menuhin Festival Conducting Academy and collaborates with the German Conductors Forum and the Norwegian Conductors Loft in Oslo.

Biography Johannes Schlaefli