Gstaad Conducting Academy
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 Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, has significantly influenced the Gstaad Conducting Academy since his first appointment in the year 2017 and is directing it already for the seventh time in 2025.
The Academy is proud to welcome conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, back here in Gstaad. She will conduct the first week of the Gstaad Conducting Academy, together with Johannes Schlaefli, who, as Head of Teaching, 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.
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.- 16.08.2025, Gstaad Festival Tent
Professors:
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Professor Gstaad Conducting Academy (3.08. - 9.08.)
Jaap van Zweden, Professor Gstaad Conducting Academy (11.08. - 14.08.)
Johannes Schlaefli, Head of Teaching (03.8. - 16.8.)
Peter Biloen, Assistant Professor Gstaad Conducting Academy (11.08. - 16.08.)
Gstaad Festival Orchestra (Orchestra in Residence), Vlad Stǎnculeasa (concert master)
Works by Brahms, Dvorák and others
Registrations can be submitted from December 2024 up to 31.01.2025 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 Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra 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
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
Starting with the season 2016/17 Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla became Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, where she succeeded conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Sakari Oramo and Andris Nelsons. Together with the CBSO Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has also frequently appeared on international tours.
Photo: Frans Jansen
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.