Application deadline Nov 25, 2025
We are excited to present Professor Johannes Schlaefli’s masterclass for professional conductors and advanced conducting students as part of Allegra Festival and Academy.
A maximum of 12 active participants will have podium time of approximately 130 minutes each. The individual needs of each participant will be addressed in video analysis sessions, class meetings, and coachings in front of the orchestra. Conducting techniques, presence in front of the orchestra, understanding of the score, and rehearsal techniques will be explored in individual lessons as well as in group meetings.
Participants will have the opportunity to create their own publicity video recording during the recording sessions on the last day of the masterclass.
Masterclass Fees:
- Application fee: €75 (non-refundable)
- Course fee for active participants: €1890
- Deposit: €1390 payable due Dec 15, 2025
- Balance: €500 payable due Jan 30, 2026, or in cash on the first day of the masterclass.
- Course fee for passive participants: €300
Please note that these fees DO NOT include travel and accommodation.
The organizer reserves the right to postpone or cancel the masterclass in case of force majeure or other unforeseeable circumstances such as governments restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel bans, etc. The organizer will immediately notify participants of such changes and will refund the paid fee in full in case of event cancelation. Participants may not assert any compensation claims for travel, visa, accommodation costs, etc.
Prof. Johannes Schlaefli
Johannes Schlaefli is currently serving as “artistic director” of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra and of “Alumni-Symphony-Orchestra Zürich”. He acts as Principal Guest Professor for the Conducting Classes at the Music Universities in Zürich and Frankfurt.
As one of the most highly sought after conducting teachers, Schlaefli is in demand throughout the world and was invited by institutions such as the Sibelius Academy Helinski, the Juilliard-School New York, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Aspen music festival and many others. He also serves as “head of teaching” at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival Conducting Academy, and works together with the prestigious “Dirigentenforum” in Germany as well as with the Norwegian “Dirigentloftet” in Oslo. As a guest professor, he has taught throughout Europe at the Music Universities of Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Manchester, Copenhagen, Helsinki.
Johannes Schlaefli was the co-founder of Basel Chamber Orchestra in 1984. From 1995-2013 he was chief conductor of Bern Chamber Orchestra before leading the Mannheim chamber orchestra as chief conductor from 2013-2019. Since 2018 he was chief conductor of the symphony orchestra “Collegium Musicum Basel” and will end his tenure in summer 2024. As a guest conductor, he has performed in his home country with orchestras such as the Tonhalleorchester Zürich, orchestra della Svizzera Italiana Lugano, symphony orchestras in Biel, Bern, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Kammerphilharmonie Chur, Zürich chamber orchestra, Argovia philharmonic an others. Internationally he also guest conducted Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Knoxville symphony orchestra, Munich Radio Orchestra, Janacek Philharmonic orchestra Ostrava, Philharmonia Prague, Allegra Festival orchestra Sofia, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Symphony orchestra Göttingen, Berlin sinfonietta etc.
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
the whole symphony
Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto E Minor Op.64
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No.4, 3th movement
Reduced version Georg Kohler
Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World”, Op. 95
Finale
!!!The works marked in red are mandatory pieces!!!
06.02.2026, Friday
10:00-12:00h First class meeting
14:00-16:30h Ensemble
17:30-20:00h Ensemble
07.02.2026, Saturday
14:00-16:30h Ensemble
17:30-20:00h Ensemble
08.02.2026, Sunday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
09.02.2026, Monday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
10.02.2026, Tuesday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
11.02.2026, Wednesday
Free day for participants
GP and concert with Prof. Schlaefli
12.02.2026, Thursday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
13.02.2026, Friday
Departure
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that quality audio and video equipment is provided free of charge to all participants for the recording of their sessions for the duration of each masterclass. Allegra Academy also offers a dedicated video recording session on the last day of each masterclass in a dress-rehearsal-mode; these recordings are the only ones from the whole masterclass, which participants are allowed to publicly broadcast and publish on social media and other platforms.
