Stefan Escher becomes the new Managing Director of the SJMW Foundation
At its meeting on January 29, 2025, the Foundation Board of the Swiss Youth Music Competition (SJMW) elected Mr. Stefan Escher from Zurich as the new Managing Director. He succeeds Valérie Probst.
Stefan Escher comes from a family of musicians and has been very familiar with the music scene as an artist agent and concert organizer for 15 years. From 2015-2019 he managed the Meisterinterpreten concert series at the Tonhalle Zurich and since 2020 he has been responsible for international instrumentalists and conductors as an artist agent at IMG Artists. He also has experience in banking and holds a Master's degree in Arts Management. The Board of Trustees is delighted to entrust Stefan Escher with the management of the Foundation and wishes him every success and pleasure in his new role.
Stefan Escher succeeds Valerie Probst. She will leave the SJMW as Managing Director at the end of February 2025 to pursue new challenges. In her 18 years as Managing Director, Valérie Probst has played a key role in shaping the development of the SJMW with great commitment. Under her leadership, funding projects were implemented that opened up valuable opportunities for the award winners and enabled them to gain lasting experience. Valérie Probst has always been a reliable and inspiring companion for the next generation of musicians.
The Board of Trustees very much regrets her departure and would like to thank Valérie Probst for her many years of extremely valuable work on behalf of young musicians in Switzerland and for her constructive and successful collaboration, and wishes her all the best for the future and every success in her new endeavors.
The Board of Trustees is now chaired by Andreas Wegelin, CEO of the SUISA Cooperative Society of Music Authors and Publishers in Zurich.
