Application deadline October 01, 2026
We are delighted to present the masterclass of Prof. Christoph-Mathias Mueller for professional conductors and advanced conducting students. Having succeeded the legendary Prof. Johannes Schlaefli at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Prof. Mueller continues the tradition of one of Europe’s leading conducting programs. We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with this distinguished institution.
During the first two days, participants will work with an ensemble before continuing with the full symphony orchestra. Through video analysis, coaching, and podium sessions, the course focuses on conducting technique, score study, musical interpretation, rehearsal skills, and artistic communication.
The masterclass concludes with two recording sessions, giving participants the opportunity to create a high-quality video for auditions, competitions, and professional applications.
Masterclass Fees:
- Application fee: €75 (non-refundable)
- Course fee for active participants: €1890
- Deposit: €1390 payable due October 07, 2026
- Balance: €500 payable due November 18, 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. Christoph-Mathias Mueller
Zurich University of the Arts
Christoph-Mathias Mueller is a distinguished conductor and the recipient of the prestigious Opus Klassik Award for Best Symphonic Recording. He serves as the Artistic Director of the Murten Classics Festival in Switzerland and is the Head of the Orchestral Conducting Department at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).
Born in Peru in 1967, Mueller grew up in Switzerland and studied violin in Basel. He earned his Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati and has spent many years living and working in Germany and around the globe.
Mueller gained international recognition in 2000 after winning the International Conducting Competition in Cadaqués, Spain. He served as a Conducting Fellow at Tanglewood, working with renowned figures such as Seiji Ozawa, Robert Spano, and Leon Fleisher. In 2001, Claudio Abbado invited him to be the Assistant Conductor for the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, a role he held until 2005.
After a year as Chief Conductor of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Egypt, he became Chief Conductor of the Göttingen Symphony Orchestra in Germany, where he later assumed the role of General Music Director. Their collaboration, which lasted 13 years, garnered two ECHO Klassik awards in 2013 and 2017.
As a Guest Conductor, Mueller maintained a close association with Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater until 2014. His versatility in contemporary music has led prominent composers, including Dieter Schnebel, Kenneth Hesketh, Rudolf Kelterborn, Isabel Mundry, and Detlev Glanert, to entrust him with their works. In recent years, he has focused particularly on rediscovering the music of composers who suffered under oppressive regimes, such as Ursula Mamlok, Alexander Veprik, and Mikhail Nosyrev.
His recent recordings feature orchestral works by Alexander Veprik with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, as well as violin concertos by Wolfgang Rihm, performed with ECHO prize-winner Tianwa Yang. Mueller’s extensive discography includes several highly praised recordings for Sony Classical, including the album “Bel Canto” with Simone Kermes and the original sound specialists at Concerto Köln.
Mueller regularly performs with internationally renowned orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Tonhalle- Orchester Zürich, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, DSO Berlin, and SWR Symphony Orchestra, along with orchestras in Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Bochum, Weimar, Jena, and Wuppertal. Last season, he conducted the Basque National Orchestra in San Sebastián, the Slovak Philharmonic, and a highly successful premiere at the Leipzig Opera with the Gewandhausorchester.
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
(1st movement)
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 “Scottish”
(1st movement)
Richard Wagner
Prelude to Tristan und Isolde
(Arr. Tarkmann)
Claude Debussy
Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Jean Sibelius
Valse triste, Op. 44, No. 1
Allegra Academy reserves the right to make changes to the rehearsals schedule and the programme at their discretion and taking in consideration the requirements of the professor.
21.11.2026, Saturday
12:30-13:30h First class meeting
14:00-17:00h Ensemble
18:00-21:00h Ensemble
22.11.2026, Sunday
14:00-17:00h Ensemble
18:00-21:00h Ensemble
23.11.2026, Monday
14:00-17:00h Full Orchestra
18:00-21:00h Full Orchestra
24.11.2026, Tuesday
14:00-17:00h Full Orchestra
18:00-21:00h Full Orchestra
25.11.2026, Wednesday
14:00-17:00h Full Orchestra
18:00-21:00h Full Orchestra
26.11.2026, Thursday
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.
Allegra Academy reserves the right to make changes to the rehearsals schedule and the programme at their discretion and taking in consideration the requirements of the professor.
