Menuhin Festival Conducting Academy and «Menuhin Conducting Prize»
At a glance
Gstaad offers rising conductors an opportunity unparalleled in the whole of Europe of working with a professional orchestra - the Gstaad Festival Orchestra - and giving concerts under the supervision of experienced conductors. With the Gstaad Festival Orchestra, the Menuhin Festival Gstaad and its Menuhin Festival Academy are on course to become the leading summer academy for young conductors in Europe.
The course is open to public audition. Each week ends with a concluding concert, conducted by Conducting Academy students.
Professors:
Jaap van Zweden, Professor Gstaad Conducting Academy
Johannes Schlaefli, Head of Teaching
Gstaad Festival Orchestra, Orchestra in Residence, Vlad Stǎnculeasa, concert master
Works by Beethoven, Mozart, Pucini amongst others
More information: www.gstaadacademy.ch
Frantisek Macek conducting the Gstaad Festival Orchestra (Photo:Theeresa Pewal)
menuhin Conducting Prize (former Neeme Järvi Prize)
The Menuhin Conducting Prize – 2026 already awarded for the eleventh time – offers active participants at the Conducting Academy the special chance of being invited as guest conductor for professional orchestras.
At the end of two-week course and after the concerts, one or more prize winners will be named by the jury consisting of the team of profesors, representatives from the partner orchestra and the Artistic Director. Instead of receiving a reward in cash, prizewinners are guaranteed an invitation from a professional Swiss orchestra during the ensuing season, arranged through the Menuhin Festival Gstaad & Academy. This experience provides young conductors with an opportunity to launch their professional career, in the hope that it will then open new doors fort hem.
Menuhin Conducting Prize: Teresa Riveiro Böhm (Photo: Theresa Pewal)