This masterclass is open to young musicians aged 11 to 18 who wish to intensify their knowledge of Early music.

Here we experience early music from the end of the 16th century to the middle of the 18th century, on all instruments played during that time: violin, recorder, oboe, flute, bassoon, cello, harpsichord, harp, chamber music ensembles with baroque repertoire. Composers such as Telemann, Bach, Handel, but also Monteverdi, Purcell or Castello are our work and experience guarantee. The lessons are given on different levels by an excellent team of experts and are divided into individual work on the instrument, workshops on specific topics such as improvisation in Early music, ornamentation and diminution theory, chamber music, group work for better technical mastery on the instrument, listening exercises and the experience of Baroque music.

Maurice Steger and an outstanding team teach the young musicians, who are also united in the Gstaad Baroque Academy with students and musicians already stage experienced. The Juniors also play concerts together with their colleagues and lecturers.

Maurice Steger, professor for early music, flauto dolce (recorder) and conducting, has championed young musicians intensively ever since – in workshops, in university courses as a guest professor, in master classes as well as in collaborative training and preparation for concerts. The support he offers is truly comprehensive, whether with suggestions with regard to technique, sharing his profound knowledge of music and music history, integrating and testing musical ideas, as well as promoting the social structure of the groups he works with and the joy of sharing with one another.

The Junior Baroque Academy Bad Ragaz offers the perfect basic conditions for that. Guided by a team of professors headed by Maurice Steger, this intense and inspiring week is for many young musicians the peak of their year of musical training. In 2023 Dorothee Oberlinger (recorder), Christoph Dangel (cello), Claudius Kamp (bassoon), Max Volbers (harpsichord and workshops) were teachers at the Academy – an inspiring team of Early music teachers.

Admission

Musicians aged 11–18.

Open to SJMW prize winners and prize winners of other music competitions from all over Europe.