Christoph-Mathias Mueller at the ZHdK

As announced by the ZHdK, the university management has, on the recommendation of the responsible search committee Christoph-Mathias Mueller has been appointed Principal Lecturer in Orchestral Conducting. He will take up his post on August 1, 2022. Christoph-Mathias Mueller succeeds Johannes Schlaefliwho has built up and continuously optimized conducting training since 1999. He will retire in August 2023.

Christoph-Mathias Mueller studied violin in Basel and obtained a Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati. He has many years of experience as chief conductor and general music director of renowned orchestras. Some of his recordings have won the Echo Award and the Opus Award. He has been Artistic Director of the Murten Classics Festival since 2021. He is characterized by his professional and didactic competence as well as his understanding of the Conductors Studio ZHdK, which has enabled numerous young conducting personalities to successfully launch their careers.
 

Photo: Rolf Mäder

Johannes Schlaefli set up the Conductors Studio ZHdK.

ZHdK - The ZHdK's conducting program enjoys an excellent international reputation. Numerous ZHdK students and alumni - including a striking number of women - are extremely successful in the highly competitive market. Johannes Schlaefli and the "Conductors Studio ZHdK", which he has developed and continuously optimized over many years at the university, are behind the ZHdK's conducting expertise.

Conducting class

• Size: 8-10 students
• Composition: all degree programmes - Bachelor, Master Performance, Master Specialized Performance. Contrary to expectations, experience has shown that peer learning favors the individual development and profiling of students.
• Gender distribution: strikingly egalitarian

Curricular activities

• Lessons with ensemble instead of piano: Conducting students (and aspiring students) do not need any specific piano skills. They practise with project-based ensembles
• Rehearsals: regularly with the Tonhalle Orchestra, occasionally with the Philharmonia Zurich
• Course weeks: Courses and concerts abroad with professional orchestras
• Networking: contacts with directors, agents, guest lecturers (master classes)
• Reflecting: Analyzing and processing the diverse inputs

Learning vessels

• Ensemble lessons: Instrumental ensemble (1111-0000-2Klav-1/1/1/1/1/1) consisting of professional musicians, instrumental students, conducting students on the piano
• Class lessons: analytical and practice-oriented examination of all aspects and tasks of contemporary orchestral conducting based on the current repertoire; exchange on further aspects (market access, programming, presentation, etc.)
• Private lessons: Individual coaching. Self-awareness as a conducting personality, guidance towards musical and professional independence
• Orchestra workshops: Conducting with various orchestras (MKW, University Orchestra, Festival Strings Lucerne etc.)
• Practice weeks: 3-4 times a year with 5 to 6 students; mainly abroad Rehearsals and final concert with partner orchestras
• ZHdK-internal collaborations: partial for ensemble, opera and orchestra projects

Selection of alumnae and alumni and current main activity

• Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Principal Conductor City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
• Philippe Bach, General Music Director Meiningen
• Corinna Niemeyer, Directrice Artistique and Chief Conductor Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg
• Patrick Lange, General Music Director Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden
• - Johanna Malangré, Principal Conductor Orchestre de Picardie
• Leo McFall, Principal Conductor of the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra
• Zoi Tsokanou, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki State Orchestra
• Kerem Hasan, Principal Conductor Tiroler Symphonieorchester Innsbruck
• Delyana Lazarova, 1st prize Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition and assistant Hallé Orchestra Manchester
• Chin-Chao Lin, General Music Director Theater Regensburg
• Holly Hyun Choe, Assistant Conductor Tonhalle-Orchestra Zurich
• Dominic Limburg, Kapellmeister Deutsche Oper Berlin
• Katharina Wincor, Assistant Dallas Symphony Orchestra
• Johannes Zahn, Kapellmeister Staatstheater Darmstadt