Golden Treble Clef for Duo Wachter-Rutz
For the first time in the 38-year history of the Golden Violin Clef, the highest award in Swiss folk music goes to a couple, the accordion duo Heidi and Ruedi Wachter-Rutz.
Since 1972, the accordion duo has been the epitome of high-quality accordion music, according to the citation. Together, the two have built up their own music school in Rorschach since 1980. The two top musicians have been particularly successful in promoting young people for decades.
Ruedi Wachter grew up with six siblings in the Ländler restaurant Schlössli Büel in Bad Ragaz. His musical role model was his uncle Stanti Schönbächler. He was already playing the accordion on the radio and making recordings at the age of 20. Heidi Wachter-Rutz was born in Toggenburg and studied classical accordion. She graduated as an accordion teacher in 1972. She also plays the flute, guitar and double bass.
The Golden Treble Clef was established in 1958 by Paul Künzi. It honors people "who have made a special contribution to folk music and thus rendered outstanding services". The prize has been awarded annually since a corresponding association was founded in 1978.
