Christoph Müller to become Artistic Director of Klosters Music from 2027
On 1 November 2026, the Basel-based cultural manager will succeed David Whelton, who will step down as Artistic Director after the upcoming festival (31 July – 9 August 2026). From 2027, Müller will launch an additional innovative project as part of Klosters Music: the “Klosters Fine Violin Summit”, which combines music and the art of violin making.
David Whelton is delighted that Christoph Müller has been appointed as his successor as Artistic Director of Klosters Music: “He brings a wealth of experience and is highly regarded in the international music world.” The Klosters Art and Music Foundation is proud to have gained such an experienced and innovative arts administrator and festival organiser for Klosters Music: “Christoph Müller has proven over many years in Gstaad that he can set up artistically outstanding projects in a holiday destination,” says Foundation President Heinz Brand. He is grateful to the festival’s founder and current Artistic Director, David Whelton, for having advanced Klosters Music in terms of quality and firmly established it in the Swiss music landscape. “We still see great growth potential for the festival – and we are confident that we have found the right man for the job in Christoph Müller,” emphasises Brand.
Quality remains the guiding principle of Klosters Music
“It has been a great pleasure for me to lead Klosters Music from its first edition to become an extremely successful, ambitious and distinctive summer music festival with a growing, loyal audience,” says David Whelton. “Our relationships with internationally renowned artists such as Sir András Schiff, Augustin Hadelich, Jan Lisiecki, Maxim Emelyanychev, Tarmo Peltokoski, Giovanni Antonini, Pablo Heras-Casado, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and the Munich Chamber Orchestra have brought us many outstanding concerts,” David Whelton sums up. “Quality remains the guiding principle of Klosters Music – both on stage and in the experience of our guests.”
Raising the profile with the new project “Klosters Fine Violin Summit”
Christoph Müller says of his upcoming role as artistic director of Klosters Music: “I am excited by a task in which I can contribute my experience and expertise as a concert organiser and festival director and make my own mark. This is very much the case with a young festival like Klosters Music, and I have the opportunity to help realise visions. In doing so, I can build on the valuable work of my predecessor, David Whelton.” The basic structure of the festival will remain the same, but Müller would like to raise the festival’s profile even further, particularly in connection with the new accompanying project “Klosters Fine Violin Summit”, and develop it into a classical music hotspot for every summer season.
Strong regional connection through tonewoods
His newly-planned project is also linked to his role as Vice-President of the Swiss Stradivari Foundation Habisreutinger-Huggler-Coray, Switzerland’s most important institution for the preservation and allocation of historical string instruments: “From 2027, two worlds will come together in Klosters: first-class music and the art of violin making with scientific topics related to violin making”’ says Müller. “This will also give the festival a unique selling point. I am excited to implement these new topics and formats together with highly qualified experts and leading musicians on site.’” This will also create a strong regional connection, because the forests of Graubünden are known for their special tonewoods, which are used worldwide for the construction of first-class instruments, according to foundation president Heinz Brand.
“Icons” as the festival motto for 2026
The upcoming 2026 festival (31 July – 9 August) has the motto “Icons” and will feature renowned artists such as baritone Bryn Terfel, guitarist Miloš, recorder player Maurice Steger and pianist Sir András Schiff, who has been with the festival since its inception. With the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen under Edward Gardner and the Camerata Salzburg under Antonello Manacorda (piano: Lukas Sternath), important ensembles have been invited to perform iconic classical works such as Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s 1st Piano Concerto (soloist: Boris Giltburg). The programme also includes chamber music (Pacific Quintet, Septura Brass Septet London) and a large-scale film music concert featuring Miloš Forman’s masterpiece “Amadeus”, performed live by the City Light Symphony Orchestra and the Zürcher Sing-Akademie. With the closing concert and festival highlight “Tales of love and friendship” on 9 August, at which Veronika Eberle (violin) and Timothy Ridout (viola) will perform Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”, David Whelton will bid farewell as Artistic Director of Klosters Music.
With the 2026 summer festival, festival founder David Whelton closes a formative chapter of Klosters Music. In 2027, Christoph Müller will open a new one with fresh ideas and the “Klosters Fine Violin Summit” – in the same spirit of artistic excellence and with the aim of further developing Klosters as a festival venue.
About Klosters Fine Violin Summit
As per November 2025