According to a press release from Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Xavier Pfarrer completed his artistic and pedagogical training at Bern University of the Arts, majoring in piano. He completed his studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg with an Aspirantura in piano solo. This was followed by competition wins, prizes and concert tours in Europe, Russia and the USA. In Switzerland, he works as a pianist, teacher (Basel Music School), examiner, expert and course director (Kalaidos University of Music).

The ZHdK's PreCollege Music prepares prospective students optimally for admission to a Bachelor's degree program. It consists of a wide range of elective and compulsory modules in practice, theory and general music education and raises awareness of future studies and the professional realities of tomorrow.

According to the canton's press release, GGG Kulturkick, which is supported by the GGG Basel association, will now assume responsibility for all funding and advice for individual projects by creative artists up to the age of 30 on behalf of the canton. Responsibilities among the cultural funding agencies will thus be clarified and made more transparent. Young artists will have a clear point of contact for their applications and concerns. Projects that improve the framework conditions for youth culture can still be submitted to the Culture Department.

From 2024, GGG Kulturkick will have a total budget of just under CHF 600,000. It receives an annual state contribution of CHF 400,000 from the canton. The offer is substantially supported by GGG Basel, which is increasing its contribution to almost 200,000 francs. This not only strengthens the promotion of individual projects, but also allows the GGG Kulturkick office to be expanded, enabling it to improve its advisory, mediation and networking services.

More info:
https://www.bs.ch/nm/2023-ggg-kulturkick-als-anlaufstelle-fuer-junge-kulturschaffende-pd.html

The Codex Manesse was created in its basic form around 1300 in Zurich - presumably at the instigation of Rüdiger Manesse and his son Johannes, who wanted to compile Middle High German song poetry in all its variety of genres and forms. Several supplements were added until around 1340. The manuscript comprises 426 parchment leaves written on both sides. It contains the texts of 140 poets in around 6000 stanzas. More than half of the works have survived exclusively in this manuscript. The representative design of the Codex Manesse is also of outstanding artistic quality. The texts are preceded by 137 full-page miniatures in color: They show the poets in idealized form during courtly activities.

The Codex will be the focus of a festive event on September 19, 2023 to mark its inclusion in this list. Maria Böhmer, President of the German Commission for UNESCO, will give a welcoming address. Knut Zuchan, Head of the Unit for Multilateral Cultural Policy/UNESCO at the Federal Foreign Office, will present the certificate. This will be followed by three academic lectures on the outstanding cultural significance of the Codex Manesse.

At the end of October 2022, the Cantonal Council adopted the initiative "Yes to the cantonal anchoring of music education (music school initiative)" and thus instructed the Government Council to submit a music school law in line with the initiative.

According to the press release from the canton of Schwyz, the streamlined draft law now available clearly defines the tasks of the various bodies and institutions. The canton recognizes music schools, contributes to their costs (to the extent of 25 percent of the expenses for the salaries of school management and teaching staff) and makes corresponding specifications. The municipalities are responsible for providing music lessons and access to them. The recognized music schools must guarantee a minimum musical offer and promote musical education.

For example, the law sets out requirements regarding the training, employment and remuneration of music school teachers at recognized music schools. Only in this way is it possible for music schools to offer courses under comparable conditions and thus make it possible for children and young people throughout the canton to learn a special instrument or receive special support under similar conditions, even outside their local community.

More info:
https://www.sz.ch/kanton/medien-informationen/medienmitteilungen.html/8756-8757-8803-10391-10392/news/18759

A second prize went to Alexandra Bidi from France. Another second prize went to Lea Maria Löffler from Germany. No third prize was awarded. The American Gabriel Polinsky won first prize in the double bass category. The second prize and the audience prize went to Hongyiu Thomas Lai from Hong Kong. The third prize went to José Trigo from Portugal.

In the piano trio category, the Orelon Trio (Italy / Germany / Spain) won first prize and the audience award. A second prize went to the Amelio Trio from Germany. The Pantoum Trio from France won third prize. A total of 345 musicians from 41 countries and five continents applied. Of these, 215 musicians from 34 countries and four continents were invited to Munich following a pre-selection by four expert juries.

Ernst Waldemar Weber, born in 1922, was a Bernese primary school teacher, secondary school teacher of music, singer with a teaching diploma and concert diploma, choirmaster and organist, member of the music and dance project groups of the Bernese teacher training program and lecturer at the University of Bern, voice coach and speech teacher, according to biographical information from Synergie-Verlag.

After a six-year pilot project with extended music lessons in Muri near Bern, he was coordinator of the National Fund project "Better education with more music" from 1988 to 1992 with 50 experimental classes. As co-founder and long-standing secretary of the Swiss Conference of School Music SKSM and the Coordination of Music Education Switzerland KMS, he launched "Youth+Music" and the music festival of the same name; he was also instrumental in the creation of the article on music education in the new Federal Constitution. In 2000, he initiated the founding of the Parent-Child Singing Association, which he headed until 2007.

With regard to the topic of cultural participation and amateur culture in the dispatch, the Thurgau cantonal government states that amateur cultural associations are of great importance for coexistence and cultural diversity, particularly in rural areas. This importance is rightly acknowledged in the Cultural Message 2025-2028. It is important that these associations are supported in recruiting young talent, digital transformation and organizational development and that their volunteer work is recognized accordingly.

With regard to the demanded improvement in the income of cultural professionals, the Government Council writes that cultural professionals have opted for a professional field in which aspects such as self-realization or artistic and creative freedom are more important than financial compensation. This decision should be respected. In conjunction with the sharp increase in the number of cultural professionals, this leads to a lower salary level in the cultural sector.

The Government Council does not find the references to an alleged lack of equality entirely comprehensible. For example, the fact that more men than women work in certain cultural sectors and vice versa is not conclusive evidence of discrimination. Rather, such findings could also be the result of gender-specific differences in interests, and there is nothing wrong with that. Further, open-ended clarifications are therefore absolutely necessary before any measures are taken.

The Federal Council is requesting funding totaling CHF 1,001.9 million to implement the Confederation's cultural policy in the years 2025-2028. This corresponds to an average real growth of 0.2 percent compared to the 2024 budget.

More info: https://www.tg.ch/news.html/485/l/de/news/65698

Dominique Bircher is studying for a Master's degree in Music Pedagogy Classics at Bern University of the Arts (HKB). Her talent and determination won over the jury for the Thun Culture Prize: "Dominique Bircher's flute playing combines musical skill with a love of experimentation and a high level of personal commitment," says the Bern University of the Arts in a statement from the city of Thun.

Dominique Bircher is currently studying at the Bern University of the Arts with Adam Walker. She completed her bachelor's degree there with distinction in February 2023. She is a two-time first prize winner of the Swiss Youth Music Competition. In 2020, she won the position of 1st solo flute in the Youth Symphony Orchestra in Bern, with which she toured Italy as a soloist in the summer of 2022.

Seohyun Kim beat off competition from Raphael Nussbaumer (17, Switzerland) and Rennosuke Fukuda (23, Japan), who were awarded second and third prize respectively. The final was held on two evenings - one with chamber music and one with orchestra - to decide between the three.

Seohyun Kim also received the Youth Jury Prize, while the Audience Prize and the Jury Prize for "over 20s" went to Raphael Nussbaumer. Seohyun Kim and Rennosuke Fukuda were also awarded for their best interpretation of the compulsory piece Macerie (rubble heap), alongside Mahiro Kurasawa (20 years old, Japan). This composition for solo violin, which was commissioned for Silvia Colasanti by the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, was premiered by everyone in the competition in the 1st round.

Urbanski was Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2021 and Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2017, which appointed him Honorary Guest Conductor at the end of his tenure. He was also Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (2012 - 2016) and Principal Guest Conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra (2015 - 2021). In November 2022 he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana.

Krzysztof Urbański's contract begins in summer 2024 and is initially valid for three years. At least six double subscription concerts are planned per season. In the season now beginning, Krzysztof Urbański will perform the 10th symphony concert of Mussorgsky's Picture Worlds with the Japanese-German pianist Alice Sara Ott on May 30 and 31, 2024 in the Casino.

The Villa Senar of the Russian musician Serge Rachmaninoff lends itself to established and new types of events, writes the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Concerts, musical Sunday brunches, jazz evenings, residencies or concert walks - as well as virtual tours that convey Rachmaninoff's work - are all part of the concept. The first formats are already being implemented. Sound installations that use nature as a source of inspiration are also possible.

"Sergei Rachmaninoff was also inspired by the idyllic nature of the peninsula for his works," says Andrea Loetscher, Managing and Artistic Director of the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation. "We want to reflect Rachmaninoff's connection with the peninsula and make this magical place accessible through art and culture."

From summer 2024, the first offers are to be implemented and thus develop the Hertenstein peninsula into a "sustainable recreational area for residents, culture and nature enthusiasts".

More info:
https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/hochschule-luzern/ueber-uns/medien/medienmitteilungen/2023/08/24/zwischenbericht-inseltraeume

The Office of Culture has existed in its current organizational form for around 20 years, writes the canton. Barbara Gabrielli has played a key role in its development and establishment over the past 15 years as head of the office. Her decision to leave the office at the end of July 2024 was "well-considered and at the right time for her".

Gabrielli's major achievements include, for example, a cultural promotion concept, a film promotion model and measures in the area of language promotion. In particular, she has driven forward digitization at the Office. Among other things, she developed a museum platform and a portal for audiovisual cultural assets and enabled the digital recording of collections and archaeological sites. It has also initiated the creation of an archive for building culture.

The canton added that the government very much regretted Barbara Gabrielli's decision to leave. The position of Head of Office will be advertised.

Guillem Palomar was born in Barcelona in 1997 and currently lives in Berlin. He studied composition with Jörg Widmann, electroacoustics with Gilbert Nouno and conducting with Michael Wendeberg. In 2021 he took part in the Lucerne Composer Seminar. His works have been performed by ensembles such as Ensemble Modern, the West Eastern Divan Orchestra and the Boulez Ensemble and conducted by conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Michael Volle and Ben Goldscheider. Palomar has also been teaching at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin and at the Ra'anana Music Center in Israel since 2021.

Jakob Raab, also born in 1997, comes from Saarbrücken. He studied composition with Theo Brandmüller and Arnulf Herrmann and also with Wolfgang Rihm at the Karlsruhe University of Music, as well as completing a bachelor's degree in music theory and piano. He has been studying music theory with Felix Diergarten in Freiburg since 2020 and mathematics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology since 2019. Works by Jakob Raab have already been premiered as part of the International Ensemble Modern Academy (IEMA).

The Roche Young Commissions were launched in 2013 as a collaboration between Roche, the Lucerne Festival and the Lucerne Festival Academy. They give those selected the opportunity to write works for orchestra. Applications are possible up to the age of 30 via an open call. The works will be premiered by the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO) as part of the Summer Festival 2025.

The composer and jazz trombonist Nils Wogram was born in Braunschweig in 1972. He studied in New York and at the Cologne University of Music. He founded his own label NWOG Records in 2010. He has been a lecturer in jazz studies at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts since 2004. He was awarded a Swiss Music Prize in 2021.

The Moselle Music Festival is an annual international music festival in the Moselle region. The concerts take place in Bernkastel-Kues, as well as in cities such as Trier and Koblenz. The program focuses on chamber music as well as classical, romantic and modern orchestral music, baroque and vocal concerts. Artists from the fields of jazz, swing and chanson also have a home at the Moselle Music Festival. The JTI Trier Jazz Award is endowed with 10,000 euros.

The bodies of people who suffer from diabetes produce no or too little insulin. People with diabetes are therefore dependent on an external supply of the messenger substance via syringe or pump. Researchers led by Martin Fussenegger from the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich in Basel want to make life easier for these people and are looking for solutions to produce and administer insulin directly in the body.

To this end, the team is pursuing the idea of enclosing insulin-producing designer cells in capsules that can be implanted in the body. In order to be able to externally control when and how much of the messenger substance the cells release into the blood, the team has researched and applied various triggers in recent years: Light, temperature or electric fields.

Fussenegger and his colleagues have now developed another novel stimulation method: they use music to trigger the release of insulin by the cells within minutes. This works particularly well with "We will rock you", a worldwide hit by the British rock band Queen.

More info:
https://ethz.ch/de/news-und-veranstaltungen/eth-news/news/2023/08/zellen-mit-musikgehoer-geben-insulin-ab.html