The Verbier Festival Orchestra (VFO) is a rite of passage for today’s exceptional young orchestra musicians. It has brought together rising talents with the foremost conductors and soloists of our time for more then 20 years, earning it the reputation as one of the best training orchestras on the planet.
The VFO includes 98 musicians aged 18 to 28 who receive intensive coaching by players from the world’s top orchestras. These mentors prepare the musicians for three weeks of rehearsals and concerts led by some of the world’s most distinguished conductors. VFO alumni have gone on to join leading orchestras around the world, including Berlin, Israel, New York and Vienna Philharmonics, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Tonhalle Orchester Zürich.
programme dates
includes arrival and departure dates
29 June – 3 August 2026
how to apply
Applications to the 2026 edition of the Verbier Festival Orchestra are now closed
Candidates must read the guidelines before starting their application or sending any questions to the Verbier Festival Team.
guidelinesrepertoire highlights 2026
The VFO performs six concerts during the 2026 Verbier Festival. Repertoire highlights include:
OLIVIER MESSIAEN
Turangalîla-Symphonie
RICHARD STRAUSS
Ein Heldenleben
ANTON BRUCKNER
Symphony No. 7
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Symphony No. 2
GUSTAV MAHLER
Symphony No. 6
conductors / mentors 2026
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Simon Rattle
Daniel Harding
Lahav Shani
Gianandrea Noseda
Vasily Petrenko
coaches 2026
In preparation for work with the orchestra’s distinguished guest conductors, VFO musicians receive intensive coaching from conductors and players from the world’s top orchestras.
Daniel Blendulf training conductor
Derrick Inouye training conductor
Clare Duckworth violin
London Symphony Orchestra
Liviu Prunaru violin
Concertmaster, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Désirée Elsevier viola
Ancienne Membre, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Dora Figueroa cello
Associate principal Cello, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Maren Reck double bass
Principal Bass, Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Dieter Flury flute
Former Principal Flute, Wiener Philharmoniker
Nathan Hughes oboe
Principal Oboe, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Sergio Pires clarinet
Principal Clarinet, London Symphony Orchestra
Lola Descours bassoon
Principal Bassoon, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Stefan de Leval Jezierski horn
Former High Horn, Berliner Philharmoniker
Bill Williams trumpet
Guest principal, soloist, performance coach
Filipe Alves trombone
Principal Trombone, Staatskapelle Berlin
Sarah Verrue harp
Principal Harp, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
Fedor Khandrikov percussion
Timpanist, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra
Christoph Bacher Alexander Technique
Coach, Barenboim-Said Akademie