Arts Global

Swiss Global is pleased to welcome to the Young Artist Roster its first singer in some time – Laure Barras soprano of Switzerland (pictured right).  The Foundation also welcomes Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula piano (pictured left). The young musicians came to the attention of the Foundation during its December audition period in Lausanne, Switzerland, and already bring impressive résumés of achievements.

Please click here to view Laure Barras’ personal website, and click here to view Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula's website.
 

Foundation Advisory Board member Barry Conyngham has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of the VCA and Music at the University of Melbourne. The Australian composer has an international career of distinction with several years of upper-level music administration. "Barry Conyngham understands the challenges of training artists within the constraints of the higher education landscape, but has shown that with determination and talent, much success can be achieved," said the Vice Chancellor of the University during the public announcement.

Mr Conyngham has participated in several Swiss Global Jours des Arts festivals in the recent past, as both lecturer and presenter of his compositions.

Please click the underlined date to read the press release from the University of Melbourne.

Swiss Global Artistic Foundation's President and Founder, Heather de Haes, has recently accepted a role as a Patron of the UK-based professional chamber choir, Tenebrae. A long-time supporter of the organisation, Ms de Haes was pleased to present the choir last autumn during its tour to America with a special evening for the Foundation's American donors. It was her long-time friend, Barbara Pollock, who introduced her to Tenebrae’s work, and in taking on role of Patron, she is honouring the memory of a wonderful woman.

As a further example of its commitment to foster emerging talent, the Foundation recently announced the formation of the Swiss Global Virtuoso Orchestra (SGVO). The Orchestra, based in Switzerland but comprised of international young professionals, will play a significant role in the activities of the Foundation, throughout Switzerland and globally. The ensemble is led by the Foundation's Artistic Advisor, Wilson Hermanto (pictured right).

Check back soon for the 2011 concert schedule in Switzerland!  For additional details about SGVO, click here.

The next audition for emerging artists to join the Swiss Global Young Artist roster is now scheduled in Switzerland. Many thanks to all who have expressed interest. For general details on applying to attend a future audition, please click the underlined date.

A note to our American donors: there is still time to make a tax-deductible donation to the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation for 2010.  Contributions may be sent to:

Or, click to make a contribution online (Please note a PayPal account is required):

We are extremely grateful to our donors and sponsors -- thank you for making a contribution today!

A surprise guest artist at the recent Swiss Global private concert in New York, Australian pianist David Fung has joined the elite Young Artist Roster of the Foundation. He has performed with world-class orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic and Melbourne Symphony, as well as been the recipient of prizes at national and international piano competitions. Mr Fung moved to the United States in 2003, and is currently a Masters candidate at Yale University.

The Jerusalem Quartet	House of the Redeemer	Rachel Kolly d'Alba

The Foundation hosted a private musical event in New York on 27 October featuring the Jerusalem Quartet and famed Swiss violinist Rachel Kolly d'Alba. Both the Jerusalem Quartet and Ms d'Alba recently received loans of prized musical instruments from the Foundation -- a rare Grancino cello (dated 1700) was loaned to the Quartet last year for concerts in London, and the violin St John (of The Evangelists) went to Ms d'Alba for her latest recording. Australian-American piano sensation David Fung was a surprise guest, playing musical interludes between the headlined artists. Mr Fung is the Foundation's newest Young Artist.

The venue for the concert was the Library at the House of the Redeemer (pictured center), a serene and acoustically warm environment ideal for meditation, contemplation and music!

Please click the underlined date for additional information, including photos!

In anticipation of Wednesday’s concert, and to discuss future plans for continuing and expanding the Foundation’s global reach of artist support, top Swiss Global executives held a summit meeting on Tuesday 26 October at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York. The gathering included Foundation Director Heather de Haes, Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon, the new Artistic Advisor Wilson Hermanto, as well as Barbara Davidson, lead representative from Swiss Global’s fundraising department. Also present were several members of the American Advisory Board, including Jonathon Moore, Jeffrey Gusman and David Cannata.

Swiss Global’s most recent collaboration with the Playhouse Project was deemed a remarkable success by the overwhelming number of participants and appreciative audience. Each autumn for three years running, Foundation Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon leads a Workshop & Performance in East Hampton, NY, where musicians from the region are invited to participate in a two-day rehearsal period followed by an evening concert. Thanks to the enthusiasm of several local arts groups, including the Choral Society of the Hamptons and the Peconic Youth Orchestra, attendance this year was at a record high. Of particular significance this season was the premiere of a newly commissioned work by Roger Ames (pictured right).

Click the underlined date for additional information, including the programme as well as photos! To read the review in the East Hampton Star newspaper, click here.
 

The Foundation is pleased to introduce two new members of our senior team: Wilson Hermanto and Clement Dumortier (pictured left and right, respectively). Wilson Hermanto has joined as Artistic Advisor and Clement Dumortier is the Foundation's General Manager for Switzerland.

Please click the underlined date for additional information.

As a further example of its commitment to foster emerging talent, the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation announces the formation of the Swiss Global Virtuoso Orchestra (SGVO). The Orchestra, based in Switzerland but comprised of international young professionals, will play a significant role in the activities of the Foundation, throughout Switzerland and globally.

SGVO's Music Director is the Foundation's Artistic Advisor, Wilson Hermanto.

Please click the underlined date to view the full article.

The eminent New York-based attorney Jeffrey Gusman is Swiss Global’s newest addition to its illustrious Advisory Board. Mr Gusman provides international legal service in matters of entertainment and technology, having represented some of the world’s leading companies: Disney, NBC and Yamaha, to name a few. He also supports charitable organisations involving the arts, health services and human rights issues.

Prior to training at Brooklyn Law School, Mr Gusman studied music at both the Juilliard School as well as the Akademie für Musik in Austria.

In an unforgettable conclusion to Swiss Global’s First International Competition on 13 July, the British-based ensemble, the Finzi Quartet, were chosen from five competing string quartets during the final round of competition. As prizes, the winning group earned a two-year loan of the Foundation’s quartet instruments, The Evangelists, as well as membership on the artists’ roster. The Finzi Quartet displayed a particular affinity for The Evangelists during its opportunity to compete with the prized instruments onstage at London’s Wigmore Hall, and demonstrated strong potential to develop into a very fine ensemble.

Please click the underlined date to read the full press release.

Sara Wolstenholme	Natalie Klouda	Ruth Gibson	Lydia Shelley

Violin superstar and Swiss Global young artist Hahn-Bin will be appearing as featured performer at the 6th Annual Playhouse Project Benefit Concert in East Hampton, New York on 12 June. The concert is in conjunction with the Master Class from late May, and includes performances from selected artists as well as an awards presentation. Click here to read the press release from this year’s collaboration with Playhouse Project.

A Foundation artist since 2006 and special protégé of the famed Itzhak Perlman, 22-year-old Hahn-Bin has received rave reviews for his debut recitals at several prestigious concert halls in the United States. Click the underlined date to read a recent review from Hahn-Bin’s recital in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation will be auditioning new artists from May to September 2010 in selected cities throughout the world. Please click on the underlined date above for complete audition details.

From these auditions we will invite musicians to be part of our Artists Roster. Artists will be selected on exceptional quality of performance, musicality and potential.

This is not a competition.

On Thursday, May 27 and Friday, May 28, the Playhouse Project, in association with Swiss Global, will host the 6th Annual Master Class at The Playhouse, located in the heart of East Hampton, New York. The classes, open to middle school and high school students on the South Fork of Long Island will take place under the baton of distinguished conductor and Swiss Global Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon. Maestro Simon, assisted by the Master Class Panel, will select this year's student winners of the Elizabeth Brockman Award in Music.

Click the underlined date to read the press release, and please see the Events section for further information about the Masterclasses as well as June's Winners' Concert!

The famous young Swiss violinist Rachel Kolly d’Alba will be recording her next CD with St Jean, the first violin of The Evangelists. The Evangelists, a matching string quartet by J-B Vuillaume, was purchased by the Foundation two years ago. The recording, featuring music of Saint-Saëns and Ysaÿe, is Ms d’Alba’s second album. Swiss Global's loan of St Jean to Ms d'Alba will continue through her ensuing concert tour, and end in late April.

Please click the underlined date to read the full article.

Denmark's leading composer, Poul Ruders, has just completed his Piano Concerto No. 2, a 23-minute work in three movements. Composed for piano virtuoso and Foundation Young Artist Vassily Primakov, the composition was commissioned for Primakov by the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, with whom Primakov will give the premiere performance in Oslo on 20 October 2010. The new work will be conducted by the orchestra's Music Director, Thomas Sondergard.

Click the underlined date to read the full article from Bridge Records.

The Foundation is pleased to welcome the Byron Quartet to its illustrious roster of young artists. The four instrumentalists of Quatuor Byron hail from different European countries, and formed the ensemble in Geneva, Switzerland. Since its origin, the Byron Quartet has been engaged in important concert seasons, such as the Guildhall Ensemble Festival of London and the Promenades Musicales of Fontainebleau.

Check out the quartet's biography, and visit www.quatuorbyron.com for further information.

Click on the date above to see the complete Press Release.

La Swiss Global Artistic Foundation annonce le terme de son prêt de deux ans au Quatuor Modides —seul ensemble au monde à être actuellement joué, de quatre instruments à cordes parfaitement assortis façonnés par un maître luthier—et l’avènement d’un nouveau concours international aux fins de choisir le prochain ensemble de musique de chambre qui aura le droit de les utiliser.

Cliquez sur la date ci-dessus pour avoir accès au Communiqué de Presse dans son entier.

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation is honoured to announce that Robert Bovet has joined its Advisory Board.

Mr Bovet, a leading international investment advisor, who is chairman, or director of a number of major global financial institutions, after beginning his career in finance in several senior banking management posts, was educated in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States.

Please click here to read Mr Bovet's biography.

Advance Notice: The Hermitage Foundation, which has used its sumptuous setting in a former patrician villa, in Lausanne, Switzerland, to stage several events during the past decade, has unveiled its latest exhibition. Works will be on display through 24 May 2010.

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation announces that the eminent international hotelier, Jean-Jacques Gauer, has joined its Advisory Board. Mr Gauer has been Chairman of The Leading Hotels of the World, the principal global grouping of major hotels, since 1990. Currently General Manager and delegate of the board of directors of the Lausanne Palace and Spa in Switzerland, he is also owner, member of the boards or of the consultancy management companies of numerous other hotels, hospitality establishments and restaurants in Switzerland and internationally.

Please click here to read Mr Gauer's biography. (Photo by Phillippe Maeder)

Advance Notice: The signature series of Swiss Global, Jours des Arts presents its sixth edition September 2010. Over an unforgettable four-day weekend, world-class musicians and lecturers will enthrall, entertain and educate the guests, before and after (and perhaps during!) sumptuous multi-course meals prepared by master chefs. Jours des Arts VI will focus on the theme of Romanticism. We return to the stunning vistas of Hotel Victoria, in Glion, Switzerland, high above Montreux.