Volunteering is a great way to join a community of passionate music lovers and artists. Since 1994 the commitment of our volunteers has been essential to the success of our summer event. This year, we hope to be able to count on you to help us make this 30th anniversary a memorable one for artists and concertgoers alike!
If you are interested in volunteering at the Verbier Festival, please read the following FAQ and role descriptions carefully, and then fill out the application form via the link below.
For any questions not included in our FAQ, please email us at benevoles@verbierfestival.com
The application deadline is 19 April 2023
available positions
Volunteer Role Descriptions
audience relations team
Mainstage
Members of the Audience Team will be on-hand to meet and greet the audience, at the Festival’s Mainstage venues – Salle des Combins and Église de Verbier – assisting with entry into the venues by scanning reservation codes and answering any queries.
They will remain on-hand throughout to ensure the smooth running of concerts including, but not limited to, ensuring mobile phones are quickly turned off if they sound during the performance, ensuring there is no photography nor recording (except by official photographers), ensuring that audience members enter and exit the venues only at appropriate times, and showing VIPs to their reserved seats. Members of the Audience Team ensure that all Festivalgoers entering an open-rehearsal are accounted for. Whilst reservations are not required, it’s important to oversee how many audience members are present.
PERKS: Members of the Audience Relations Team are in direct contact with both concertgoers and the Festival team. They are also able to enjoy the concerts and Open-Rehearsals.
PROFILE: You have previously worked as an usher at the Verbier Festival or another festival or venue. You are personable, patient and responsive. You work well in a team and have excellent customer service. You like to work in a dynamic environment. Speaking several languages, including French and English, is a plus.
Academy (Masterclasses)
Academy Masterclasses are always very popular. The Academy Audience Relations Team will be on-hand to meet and greet the audience, assisting with entry into the venues and answering any queries.
They will remain on-hand throughout to ensure the smooth running of the masterclasses including, but not limited to ensuring mobile phones are quickly turned off if they sound during the Masterclass, ensuring there is no photography nor recording (except by official photographers), ensuring that audience members enter and exit the venues only at appropriate times, and showing VIPs to their reserved seats.
PERKS: You will have contact with Academy teachers, programme coordinators and students, as well as the Verbier Festival Academy team. You will be able to attend Masterclasses and Open-Rehearsals.
PROFILE: You are patient, like to take initiative and can be diplomatic. You are also curious about music. Speaking several languages, including French and English, is a plus.
UNLTD
The UNLTD (Unlimited) programme includes a number of free and affordable events in venues throughout Verbier and Le Châble—both indoors and the great outdoors. These include performances, talks and even musical hikes. Most of these events will require advance registration or ticket reservation. Volunteers on this team will scan reservations and/or check reservation lists before admitting Festivalgoers to events. They remain on hand throughout each event to deal with any issues, including, but not limited to ensuring mobile telephones are quickly turned off if they sound during indoor performances, ensuring there is no photography nor recording of indoor performances (except by official photographers), and ensuring that audience members enter and exit the venues only at appropriate times.
For events that do not require prior reservation, members of this volunteer team may be required to check-in Festivalgoers via an electronic pass (likely through a mobile phone app).
Audience Relations Team members are also on-hand to field any questions from Festivalgoers and may, from time to time, be asked to assist the UNLTD team with logistical or production tasks.
PERKS: You will work directly with artists, speakers, the UNLTD team and experience curious Festival events first-hand.
PROFILE: You enjoy a variety of challenges and like to roll up your sleeves to take initiative. You have diverse interests in the arts and are musically curious. Speaking several languages, including French and English, is a plus.
backstage crew
Making artists feel at home is essential for a great performance. Members of the Backstage Crew play an important part in making this possible. They prepare artist dressing rooms and ensure that artists’ needs are met backstage.
PERKS: Contact with artists appearing at the Festival
PROFILE: You speak French and English fluently, have an excellent sense of customer service and are discrete. You are familiar with the world of classical music and comfortable dealing with VIPs.
press & communications
Press Assistants
Each summer, the Verbier Festival hosts journalists from around the world. Our volunteer Press Assistants work closely with the Press Coordinator to assist journalists during their visits, from giving directions to arranging complimentary tickets. Every day, they carry out a press review to find the articles published and update the daily press clippings.
PERKS: You learn how a busy press office functions during an international cultural event, and are in close contact with journalists, artists and members of the professional Press Coordination team.
PROFILE: You have studied or wish to study communications or journalism, and have an interest in classical music. You are professional, efficient and flexible, with strong interpersonal and public relations skills. Speaking several languages (including French and English) is a plus.
Social Media Assistants
Social Media Assistants are content creators for the Festival’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. They capture unique moments of the Festival that we can share with audiences around the world, and submit their posts for publication by the staff social media team.
PERKS: These volunteers will attend a wide-range of concerts and events at the Festival and learn from a professional social media team on best practices.
PROFILE:You are familiar with social networks and how they work. You have an eye for striking photos and compelling videos. You are familiar with editing techniques for short video formats or other types of web content.
Translator (French to English)
Most of the Festival communication is undertaken in both French and English. We are looking for a volunteer to translate our texts from French to English at a very high standard.
PERKS: You work closely with the Communications team throughout the Festival and play an important role in maintaining high quality print and digital communication.
PROFILE: You are an exceptional writer who is familiar with the world of classical music and is comfortable using Microsoft Word. You are bilingual (English-French).
Copywriter Assistant (French and English)
The Festival has a constant flow of communication that has to be delivered efficiently and effectively. The copywriting assistant creates various texts and assists with the editorial content.
PERKS: You will work closely with the Communication team during the Festival and assist the Digital Community Manager in managing and updating website content and other digital media. You will write texts, update information and control their integration across the different channels.
PROFILE: You have experience in communications, you are a talented writer with knowledge of both classical music and web content writing. You are bilingual (English-French).
information agents
With such a full programme at the Verbier Festival, Festivalgoers sometimes need guidance on which events to choose, where to go and how to get there, not to mention updates on last-minute changes. Of course, there are also visitors to Verbier who stumble upon the Festival for the first time! Information Officers keep visitors informed, face to face or over the phone.
The information officer is also in charge of the mobile information point, the collection point and the lost and found registration.
PERKS: You will be in direct contact with Festivalgoers and the Festival team. You will be among the first to know what is happening each day at the Festival. Your evenings will be free to attend concerts.
PROFILE: You know both the Verbier Festival and resort of Verbier well. You are outgoing, inquisitive, and good at searching out information. You know how to stay calm under pressure, are responsive and diplomatic. You speak French and English, and ideally some other languages too.
unltd kids helpers
UNTLD Kids, presented by Unlimited, is the Festival’s programme for children. It includes Storytellers—programme through which children explore a well-known story set to the music of a famous composer, and Opera Dahu—an opportunity for kids to create their own version of a popular opera. These volunteers work with the UNTLD Kids team to supervise two groups of children: those aged 5 to 8 and 9 to 12.
PERKS: A great experience for those looking to work in the field of music appreciation for young people. This is a position with lots of variety and fun, which allows you to be free to attend Festival concerts in the evenings.
PROFILE: You enjoy working with children, rolling up your sleeves and taking initiative. Speaking several languages, including French and English, is a plus. A background check may be required.
welcome pack team
First impressions matter to us, which is why our welcome packs are so important. Artists, journalists, special guests and Festival team members will all receive a welcome pack upon arrival at the Festival. Members of the Welcome Pack Team will collect the contents of these packs and prepare them before the Festival begins.
This position requires your availability a few days before the start of the Festival, and your mission will end before the end of the Festival.
PERKS: You will work in a relaxed atmosphere, collaborating closely with the Hospitality team. There will be no contact with the public and you will only be needed for two hours in the late morning.
PROFILE: You are fast, flexible, creative and organised.
orchestras assistant team
Canteen Coordinator Verbier Festival Orchestra
The VFO musicians eat their lunch and dinner in the relaxed atmosphere of the canteen.
We need you to welcome them and ensure the smooth running of the service.
This position requires your availability from 27 June until the end of the Festival.
PERKS: You have privileged contact with the VFO team and musicians, and are offered a meal at the end of your shift.
PROFILE: You are fluent in French and English, show initiative, and enjoy making personal connections
Comba School Assistant
The Comba School is the main rehearsal venue for the chamber music concert series, as well as the Verbier Festival Orchestra and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra. You will assist the coordinator of the school with a number of tasks, such as: monitoring the entrance to the school (helping guests find their way around the building), looking after the green coffee corner (washing cups and plates, adding coffee supplies, etc.), helping with recycling, and occasionally opening the building at 8 a.m.
This position requires your availability from July 13 until the end of the Festival.
BENEFITS: You play an important role in keeping the school running and be around the rehearsals of world-class musicians.
PROFILE: You have a good level of English and French, are motivated to create a welcoming atmosphere in the school and take initiative when help is needed.
it team
App Support team
We are looking for a volunteer who can help our staff members and artists use a smartphone app to manage their expenses.
This position requires wider availability: you will need to start one week before the Festival, until one week after the Festival. The exact dates will be agreed with your direct supervisor.
PERKS: You are in direct contact with the Festival teams. Your schedule is flexible and you can take advantage of your evenings to attend the concerts.
PROFILE: You speak French and English. You are comfortable with all major brands of smartphones and the IOS or Android operating system. You are outgoing, inspire confidence, and like to help find solutions.
Mainstage Screen Broadcasting
Before and after each concert at the Salle des Combins, as well as during intermissions, there will be a video broadcast on the screens. We are looking for a volunteer to always make sure that the video begins on time.
BENEFITS: You are in direct contact with the technical team. You can attend concerts at Salle des Combins.
PROFILE: Tech-savvy with good computer skills.
green project
Équipe Green Project
The Verbier Festival is taking steps to make the Festival more sustainable, and to inspire environmentally friendly choices amongst Festival participants. As our Green strategy continues to evolve, we may need volunteers to help with new projects and initiatives. If this is a cause close to your heart, please let us know when you register as a volunteer.
