The Academy searches the world for the most promising pianists, violinists, violists, cellists and chamber music ensembles of trios and quartets to become students of its Soloists & Ensembles Programme.
Four to eight from each solo discipline and up to two ensembles are selected for three weeks of mentorship and coaching by a faculty that is second to none. Up to three Junior Students, aged 13 to 15, may also be invited to soak up the Festival experience with the aim of inspiring them to apply for full Academy positions in the future. The study and performance of chamber music is fundamental at Verbier. Soloists take part in chamber music masterclasses in addition to those in their respective solo disciplines.
with generous support from
Aspect Foundation
Anders and Mia Bergendahl
François and Caroline Reyl
David and Nadia Sela
The Tabor Foundation
apply
Applications open: 10 October 2023
Application deadline: 18 January 2024
Fee: USD 100 (USD 50 for Junior Students)
programme dates
14 July – 5 August 2024
includes arrival and departure dates
how to apply
Please read the guidelines at the following link before beginning your application to the Soloists & Ensembles Programme and before sending any questions to the Verbier Festival Team.
guidelinesmasterclasses
Information for students
Soloists normally perform in at least six masterclasses in their solo disciplines and four masterclasses in their assigned chamber music groups. When possible, Junior Students will perform in at least two masterclasses or private coaching sessions; they may also be assigned to a chamber music group at the Academy’s discretion.
Ensembles perform in approximately ten masterclasses.
Information for the public
Academy masterclasses are open to the public at no charge. Only musicians accepted to the Academy perform during these classes. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when the 2024 masterclass schedule is published. All classes are led in English.
mentors
Piano
Joaquín Achúcarro
Kirill Gerstein
András Schiff
Rena Shereshevskaya
Violin
Augustin Dumay
Pamela Frank
Mihaela Martin
Viola
Máté Szűcs
Lars Anders Tomter
Antoine Tamestit
Cello
Frans Helmerson
Alisa Weilerstein
Chamber Music
Pierre Colombet (Quatuor Ébène)
András Keller
Gabriel Le Magadure (Quatuor Ébène)
Gábor Takács-Nagy
21C Artist Training
All Academy musicians learn to navigate the business of music through exposure to concepts they don’t learn in school: interactive concert programming to address changing audience tastes and demographics, effective marketing and social media, media training, financial management, sound and video recording, and mental and physical wellness practices. Musicians meet with artists, educators and businesspeople who are living proof that there is no single career path for a young artist.
alumni mentors
In its quest for excellence, the Academy has developed collaborations with some of the greatest mentors and coaches. Returning 2024 mentors are marked with an asterisk.
Piano
Joaquín Achúcarro*
Sergei Babayan
Dmitri Bashkirov †
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Michel Béroff
Bella Davidovich
Leon Fleisher
Claude Frank †
Richard Goode
Gary Graffman
Klaus Hellwig
Joseph Kalichstein
Stephen Kovacevich
Menahem Pressler
Ferenc Rados
András Schiff*
Rena Shereshevskaya*
Violin
Kristóf Baráti
Guy Braunstein
Zakhar Bron
Ana Chumachenco
Augustin Dumay*
Pamela Frank*
Ivry Gitlis
Ida Haendel
András Keller
Young-Uck Kim
Boris Kuschnir
Mihaela Martin*
Igor Oistrakh
György Pauk
Dora Schwarzberg
Joseph Silverstein
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Isaac Stern †
Viktor Tretiakov
Donald Weilerstein
Eduard Wulfson
Pinchas Zukerman
Viola
Yuri Bashmet
Isabel Charisius
Gerard Caussé
Roberto Diaz
Yuri Gandelsman
Nobuko Imai*
Kim Kashkashian
Paul Neubauer
Lawrence Power
Antoine Tamestit*
Lars Anders Tomter*
Tabea Zimmermann
Cello
Nicolas Altstaedt
Alban Gerhardt
Lynn Harrell †
Frans Helmerson*
Gary Hoffman
Steven Isserlis
Ralph Kirshbaum
Laurence Lesser
Julian Lloyd Webber
Miklós Perényi
Ferenc Rados
Torleif Thedéen
Jian Wang
Chamber Music
Nicolas Altstaedt
Alfred Brendel
Pierre Colombet*
Pamela Frank
Kirill Gerstein
Amihai Grosz
Klaus Hellwig
Mathieu Herzog
I Giardini
András Keller*
Gabriel Le Magadure*
Mihaela Martin
Raphaël Merlin
Menahem Pressler
Ferenc Rados
Quatuor Ébène*
András Schiff
Alasdair Tait
Gábor Takács-Nagy*
Pinchas Zukerman
