During his studies, Kämpfen’s performances of Bach’s Passions with the Oberwalliser Vokalensemble, in chamber formation, accompanied by the Camerata de Berne, already brought him initial success.
His international career began in 1989, when he won the Gorizia International Choral Competition. He was also awarded the Special Prize for Best Director in the Renaissance and Romantic categories. He went on to win several national and international competitions with the Oberwalliser Vokalensemble, which he has conducted since its foundation in 1981.
In 1994, Hansruedi Kämpfen founded the Swiss Youth Choir, which, under his artistic direction and in collaboration with André Ducret, became one of Europe’s leading youth choirs over 24 years. In 2007, he won the Grand Prix for choirs awarded by the Steiger Foundation.
Hansruedi Kämpfen’s intense teaching activity, particularly at the AMO music school, has led him to train a generation of choirmasters (CH I Certificate) and, as a singing teacher and choirmaster, to launch several young singers on professional solo careers.
For six years, Hansruedi Kämpfen chaired the Music Commission of Europa Cantat (EC), and for three years he was Vice-Chairman of the Steering Committee of this European choral association.
For many years, Hansruedi Kämpfen was Chairman of the Music Commission of the Swiss Choral Association (USC) and President of the Swiss Federation Europa Cantat. He is actively involved in choral singing, both nationally and internationally.
Since 2013, he has been Artistic Director of the Montreux Choral Festival, Switzerland’s only international choral competition.
As director of various vocal ensembles, Hansruedi Kämpfen has worked with internationally renowned conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Zubin Mehta and Ton Koopman, notably at the Verbier Festival and the Zermatt Festival.
