Testimonials

 The Conducting Academy in Gstaad represents an unique occasion for both conductors and instrumental players. They have the possibility to reach out to each other and discover the very basics of their music making together. This can enlarge the perception of each musician involved and can eventually bring people to a better understanding of the universe we live in.

The Gstaad Conducting Academy offers young conductors the unique opportunity to gain experience and develop their skills through daily work with a professional orchestra for nearly three weeks, under the guidance of exceptional conductors and teachers. This intensity of work, compa- rable to the daily work of an instrumentalist, allows us to try out, to assimilate new things, reject others, and thus deepen our leadership skills. It is a great honor to have been awarded the Neeme Järvi Prize and I greatly look forward to working with the Kammerorchester Basel.

The orchestra and the management are at the highest imaginable level and of an exceptional friendliness. The interaction between the two teachers cannot be better: fair, attentive and respectful. For me it is very unusual that I felt rather sad when it was over.

The Gstaad Conducting Academy is an extraordinary opportunity. We would never otherwise have the chance of working with an orchestra for three weeks and conducting it every day. You find out about the impact of gesture – how gesture can be made effective, or how it may fail to come across – in a totally direct way. Y0u become aware, above all, of this absolute necessity of being at the same time all ear for what is happening and all anticipation of what is going to come next – this is what conducting is all about.

I was completely bowled over by the final concert of the Conducting Academy. There was plenty of variety here, exciting comparisons and lots of useful insights into the conducting profession. This project is unique and deserves all the support it can get!