Application deadline May 01, 2026
We are excited to present Prof. Johannes Schlaefli and James Lowe intensive masterclass for professional conductors and advanced conducting students.
A maximum of 14 active participants will have podium time of approximately 130 minutes each. Besides the sessions with full orchestra, there will be conducting lessons with chamber ensembles.
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.
On the last day of the masterclass, participants will have the opportunity to create their own publicity video recording during two recording sessions.
Masterclass Fees:
- Application fee: €75 (non-refundable)
- Course fee for active participants: €1950
- Deposit: €1300 payable due Mai 08, 2026
- Balance: €650 payable due July 10, 2026, or in cash on the first day of the masterclass.
If you are interested in attending the course as a listener, please contact us via the “Contact” menu.
Please note that these fees DO NOT include travel and accommodation.
The selection of the active participants will be communicated via email within seven days after the application deadline.
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.
James Lowe
Spokane Symphony, USA
City of Vaasa Orchestra, Finland
James Lowe is Music Director of the Spokane Symphony, USA and the City of Vaasa Orchestra, Finland. His work as Artistic Director of the Hallé Harmony Youth Orchestra was featured in a four-part documentary shown in the UK on Channel 4 in 2010.
A recipient of the Bernard Haitink Fund for Young Talent, Lowe is Principal Conductor of the Edinburgh Contemporary Music Ensemble, Principal Guest Conductor of Music for Everyone and held the position of Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Educated at the University of Edinburgh, Lowe continued his development as Benjamin Zander Conducting Fellow with the Boston Philharmonic, and has studied with leading conductors in masterclasses, including Jorma Panula, Neeme Järvi, Bernard Haitink and with Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra. He has worked as Assistant Conductor to Haitink in performances with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.
One of two prizewinners in the Tokyo International Competition for Conductors and special prize winner in the Jorma Panula International Competition, he has appeared in performance with the Osaka and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestras, the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Hallé Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Ballet, the orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as working with numerous other ensembles in many European countries, South Africa and the USA.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Egmont-Overture Op. 84
Johannes Brahms
The Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, 1st Movement
Antonin Dvorák
Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70, 1st Movement
Johann Strauss II
Der Zigeunerbaron (“The Gypsy Baron”) Overture
!!!The works marked in red are mandatory pieces!!!
13.07.2026, Monday
11:00-12:00h First class meeting
14:00-16:30h 2 x Ensembles
17:30-20:00h 2 x Ensembles
14.07.2026, Tuesday
14:00-16:30h 2 x Ensembles
17:30-20:00h 2 x Ensembles
15.07.2026, Wednesday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
16.07.2026, Thursday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
17.07.2026, Friday
Video analysis sessions with Prof. Schlaefli
Concert with James Lowe
18.07.2026, Saturday
14:00-16:30h Full Orchestra
17:30-20:00h Full Orchestra
19.07.2026, Sunday
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.
