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Pre-College Days 2024 - 80 young people in Neuchâtel

If you want to study music, you can prepare for it at a pre-college during your apprenticeship or high school. In mid-January, around 80 pre-college students from all over Switzerland came together for a weekend of workshops and a final concert.

Anicia Kohler  - Feb. 23, 2024

Photos: Anicia Kohler

Guitar bags next to cello cases, the harpsichord next to the Nord Stage Piano - 

Even at first glance, it was clear that the first Pre-College Days on January 13/14 at the Conservatoire Neuchâtel brought together different musical traditions. However, the young people between the ages of 16 and 19 were not bothered by their different home countries (classical, jazz or Comédie Musicale) or the language differences. On the first day they attended various workshops, and on the second day they presented the results of their work at a concert, crowned by three joint final pieces.

"The students immediately got talking to each other, which was really nice to see," says singing teacher Mallika Hermand (Conservatoire Neuchâtel), who taught an electro-pop workshop. This was also confirmed by Stewy von Wattenwil (Swiss Jazz School Bern), whose workshop on "Exam and performance anxiety" was attended by both classical and jazz students, who all spoke openly about their experiences. "Everyone knows these fears, and yet they are rarely talked about," he says, "Anyone who attends a pre-college will have to take exams - they all have that in common." 

The idea for the Pre-College Days was born just six months earlier at a meeting of the Pre-College CH conference with representatives from all nine certified Swiss pre-colleges. "It is important that the students can exchange ideas and make contacts not only at cantonal but also at national level," says Nicolas Farine, principal of the Conservatoire Neuchâtel, which volunteered to host the event. He considers the fact that 80 young people registered for the first edition to be a success - as did the concert on Sunday. After just one rehearsal, everyone was on stage together, playing and singing two classical pieces with equal virtuosity as a specially arranged version of the bossa nova "Manha de Carnaval". "I was very moved overall," says Nicolas Farine. "We took a risk, both organizationally and musically, and I think it was worth it." 

 

Lisa, 16 years old, harp

It was really great. I met a lot of people - it's nice to get to know others who also make music. In the evening we all jammed together. It was a very cool atmosphere.

 

Edgar, 17 years old, trombone

There were no language difficulties at all. That's actually amazing, but music is what connects you, you have a common topic of conversation. For me, the weekend was really brilliant. 

Information about the Pre-College

At pre-colleges, musically talented young people are usually prepared for music studies during upper secondary school. The courses are offered in close cooperation between music schools and music colleges. The Swiss Association of Music Schools (VMS) and the Conference of Swiss Music Universities (KMHS) jointly award the Pre-College Music CH quality label to nationally recognized providers of pre-college courses. Nine schools are currently certified with the quality label: 

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