The Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra (VFJO) is an international orchestral training programme for young musicians aged 15 to 18. Nearly 60 students are mentored by renowned conductors and soloists, and coached by a roster of established musicians from the world’s best orchestras.
programme dates
includes arrival and departure dates
12 July – 4 August 2026
how to apply
Applications to the 2026 edition of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra open on 10 October 2025 until 16 January 2026 at 23:59 (EST)
Candidates must read the guidelines before starting their application or sending any questions to the Verbier Festival Team.
guidelinesApply
Application Deadlines:Live Auditions: December 11 2025 (23:59 EST)
Video Auditions: January 16 2026 (23:59 EST)
repertoire 2026
In 2026, the VFJO performs two symphonic concerts and an opera. Repertoire highlights include:
PAUL DUKAS
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Violin Concerto No. 1
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Piano Concerto No. 3
CARL ORFF
Carmina Burana
GIUSEPPE VERDI
La traviata
james gaffigan
Music Director
James Gaffigan is the second Music Director of the VFJO, after the founding Music Director Daniel Harding, who served from 2013 to 2016. Gaffigan’s history with the VFJO goes right back to its beginnings, having conducted the orchestra in its inaugural summer when it was known as the Verbier Festival Music Camp. He has since watched it evolve into a permanent and important fixture of the Verbier Festival, and in 2026 will conduct all three of the VFJO’s concerts at the Verbier Festival.
instrumental soloists 2026
coaches 2026
Coachings, sectional rehearsals and private lessons are led by a roster of established orchestra members from around the world.
David Ballesteros violin
London Symphony Orchestra
Caroline Simon violin
Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera
Germán Clavijo viola
London Symphony Orchestra
Nicolas Hartmann cello
Orchestre National de Lyon
Mary Javian double bass
Philadelphia Curtis Institute of Music
Magdalena Bogner flute
Komische Oper Orchester Berlin
Rémi Grouiller oboe
Orchestre de Paris
Maxime Van Heghe trumpet
Indépendant – Orchestre & Jazz (Freelance – Orchestra & Jazz)
Aleksandar Tasic clarinet
Novi Sad Academy of Arts
Simon Van Holen bassoon
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Clément Charpentier-Leroy horn
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Jonathan Reith trombone
Trombone Solo, Orchestre de Paris
Robin Fourmeau percussion
Sinfonieorchester Basel
supervision
The VFJO works closely with Altitude, a Verbier-based summer and winter camp known internationally for its quality of service and professional staff. Altitude boasts many years’ experience in caring for and working with children and young adults of all ages and nationalities. Its mission is to provide a positive environment for young people to learn, laugh, and build confidence.
Altitude provides several highly qualified, experienced councillors who lead groups of no more than 15 VFJO students each. These smaller groups live in the same chalets, and eat breakfasts and dinner together. Most activities—musical and otherwise—are undertaken together with all VFJO students.
English is the primary language spoken for all VFJO activities, but the staff of both the VFJO and Altitude come from many different countries and speak a variety of languages.