info
Between our main festival seasons, we host individual concerts, performances, talks, and social engagement events in collaboration with various institutions and initiatives. Our musical focus is on commissioning new works by artists we admire, providing them opportunities to explore beyond the boundaries of their usual practice. We achieve this by bringing together artists from diverse musical backgrounds and offering them time to create and collaborate.
Our program spans multiple genres and styles, inviting audiences to experience a rich spectrum of musical expression at each event. Our primary festival venues in Zurich are Moods Club and EXIL, with additional locations selected based on collaborations.
history
The “Indie Classical” or “neo:classical” scene developed in several places at the same time (New York, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich). A strong current emanated from Brooklyn, New York starting in 2008. With Judd Greenstein, label boss of the Brooklyn label “New Amsterdam Records”, a central figure in this scene was chosen as co-director of the festival. His partners on the Swiss side are Etienne Abelin, Ynight co-founder, former member of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and currently Music Director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra, Nik Bärtsch, EXIL Club co-founder and leader of the Zenfunk band Ronin, Philipp Cron, former curator at Cabaret Voltaire, and Jakob Blumer, cultural entrepreneur.
team
Nik Bärtsch / Philipp Cron
MANAGEMENT:
Jakob Blumer
ADVISORY BOARD:
Judd Greenstein / Etienne Abelin
New Amsterdam Records
COMMUNICATIONS:
Sandra Smolcic
GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Badesaison , Zurich