ZERMATT FESTIVAL ACADEMY: 6 – 21 SEPTEMBER 2025
The village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn offers peace and relaxation in one of the most
beautiful places in the world. This unique atmosphere in the middle of a breathtaking natural
landscape enchanted Pablo Casals who regularly spent his summer holidays here in the 1950s and
60s. Together with Franz Seiler, General Manager of the Seiler Hotels Zermatt at that time, Casals
founded the Zermatt summer concerts and master classes, to which he invited almost all of the
famous musicians of his day as chamber music partners and teachers.
This tradition was revived in 2005 with the creation of the Zermatt Music Festival & Academy.
Chamber music and orchestral concerts are performed by the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin and other
soloists of the Berliner Philharmoniker in the beautiful Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius and the Riffelalp
Kapelle, located at 2’222 meters above sea level, as well as at other locations in Zermatt.
Each year, highly gifted students are invited to take part in the Zermatt Festival Academy where they
take lessons with members of the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin and perform alongside them in the
Zermatt Festival Orchestra. Working intensively with these members of the Berliner Philharmoniker
provides a unique educational experience at the highest possible level. After successfully participating
in their first year of the academy, students have the opportunity to return for a second edition. By
renewing this experience, they can continue to build on what they learnt the previous year.
This year, Zermatt Festival Academy students will have the opportunity to perform in the run-up to the
Zermatt Festival by accompanying the finalists of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition
under the direction of Gábor Takács-Nagy in Vevey (3–6.9.2025). Participation in this special project
would be recommended but is not a requirement (please see CLARA HASKIL COMPETITION
appendix on page 6).
TARGET GROUP
The Zermatt Festival Academy is designed for excellent young musicians and chamber music
ensembles. We are looking for talented young musicians who have graduated from higher education
institutions and academies in Europe, Switzerland and around the world. Please note that applicants
should still be students and should not already have a permanent job.
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PROFESSORS
WIND SECTION
Christina Fassbender, flute
Dominik Wollenweber, oboe
Alexander Bader, clarinet
Markus Weidmann, bassoon
Andrej Žust, French horn
STRING SECTION
Wolfram Brandl, violin
Christophe Horák, violin
Rachel Schmidt, violin
Micha Afkham, viola
Claudio Bohorquez, cello
Peter Riegelbauer, double bass
SOLOISTS/CONDUCTORS
Heinz Holliger, conductor/oboe
Christian Gerhaher, Bariton
Radek Baborák, conductor/French Horn
LANGUAGE OF THE CLASSES
German, English
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PROGRAMME
Concerts with ZERMATT FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Together with the professors, the students form the Zermatt Festival Orchestra. The Orchestra’s
programme this year is planned as follows:
Friday, 12th September 2025
19:30 concert at Pfarrkirche
Heinz Holliger, conductor
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Zermatt Festival Orchestra
Franz Schubert - Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major D 485
Othmar Schoeck - Elegie
Saturday, 13th September 2025
19:30 concert at Pfarrkirche
Heinz Holliger, conductor/oboe
Zermatt Festival Orchestra
Felix Mendelssohn - Hebrides Overture
Joseph Haydn - Sinfonia Concertante
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 1 in C major op. 21
Friday, 19th September 2025
19:30 concert at Pfarrkirche
Wolfram Brandl, concertmaster and violin
Micha Afkham, viola
Radek Baborák, horn
Zermatt Festival Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Sinfonia concertante for violin and viola in E-flat major
Arthur Honegger - Symphony No. 2, H. 153
Richard Strauss - Horn Concerto No. 2
Saturday, 20th September 2025
19:30 concert at Pfarrkirche
Radek Baborák, conductor and horn
Zermatt Festival Orchestra
Richard Strauss - Sonatina No. 2 in E-flat major for 16 wind instruments, “Fröhliche Werkstatt”
Antonín Dvořák - Symphony No. 8 in G major op. 88
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ACADEMY CONCERTS
In addition to the orchestra concerts in the St. Mauritius-Pfarrkirche as listed above, there will be three
chamber music concerts performed by the students from the 16th to the 18th of September at different
venues in Zermatt. The programme for these chamber music concerts will be announced in July.
INSTRUMENTATION
We are looking for the following musicians:
10 violinists
5 violists
4 cellists
2 double bassists
2 flautists
2 oboists
2 clarinettists
2 bassoonists
3 French horn players
SCHEDULE
ARRIVAL IN ZERMATT: Saturday, 6.9.2025 by 6pm latest in Zermatt
DEPARTURE FROM ZERMATT: Sunday, 21.09.2025 in the morning
Rehearsals without teachers will take place from the evening of Saturday 6.9. until Monday 8.9. Make
ensure you arrive on Saturday afternoon so that you will be ready for any rehearsals taking place that
evening.
Lessons will take place in central locations in Zermatt. The rehearsals are open to the public from the
9th September onwards.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation will be provided in hotels or apartments by the Festival.
TERMS
Lessons, accommodation and food are all provided free of charge by the festival. The student should
however pay his/her travel expenses.
INFORMATION AND APPLICATIONS
To apply to become a student at the Zermatt Festival Academy 2025, please send your application via
the Muvac site by 31st March 2025
Students will be selected by members of the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin by 1st May 2025.
For any questions, please contact Anna v. Lüneburg, Director of Zermatt Festival Academy:
academy@zermattfestival.com
Mobile +49 (0) 177 589 7271
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ZERMATT FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA at the CLARA HASKIL international
piano competition – 3 September to 6 September 2025
CLARA-HASKIL COMPETITION
The internationally renowned Clara Haskil Piano Competition has been held every two years since
1963. It is held in memory of the great Romanian pianist Clara Haskil (1865-1960), who lived in Vevey
from 1942 onwards. As part of this year’s final concert, three finalists will be accompanied by the
ZERMATT FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA under the direction of Gábor Takács-Nagy. The concert will be
broadcast live on Radio Télévision Suisse - Espace 2.
ORCHESTRA SCHEDULE
Wednesday 3rd September
By 4pm: Orchestra musicians arrive at the Fondation Hindemith in Blonay (Switzerland)
Evening: First rehearsals in Blonay.
Thursday 4th September
Rehearsals with all three finalists in Vevey.
Friday 5th September
Afternoon: Dress rehearsal in Vevey
7:30pm: Final concert in Vevey with live radio broadcast.
Saturday 6th September
Travel from Blonay to Zermatt
The ZERMATT FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA is made up of the 2025 Zermatt Festival Academy students,
as well as some students from last year’s Zermatt Festival Academy.
REPERTOIRE
Each finalist will announce the piano concerto that he or she will perform on the afternoon of the 3rd
September. The work will be selected from piano concerti by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and
Schumann.
PROFESSORS/ COACHES
The orchestra will be conducted by Gábor Takács-Nagy. One member of the Scharoun Ensemble
Berlin will be present for coaching during the rehearsals as well.
ACCOMMODATION
Hindemith Fondation in Blonay, Switzerland (in shared rooms of 2, 3 or 4 persons)
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FEE
Orchestra members who are taking part in Zermatt Festival Academy 2025 will each receive a fee of
CHF 500.- gross (an A1-form is required).
Accommodation and meals are provided by the Competition.
Travel costs to Blonay are at the charge of the musicians.
Travel costs from Blonay to Zermatt on 6.9. will be paid by the Festival.
MORE INFORMATION
Zermatt Festival Academy - Direction
Anna v. Lüneburg
academy@zermattfestival.com
Mobile +49 (0) 177 589 7271
