KLOSTERS MUSIC VIOLIN SUMMIT
First edition: 2 to 7 August 2027
With the Klosters Music Violin Summit, Klosters Music is adding a new dimension to the festival, bringing together music, violin making, science and cultural heritage. For one week, renowned experts, young violin makers, researchers, musicians and the interested public will gather in Klosters.
Each issue focuses on a significant historical string instrument and examines it from various perspectives. State-of-the-art scientific and technological methods are combined with craftsmanship, musical practice and questions relating to construction, sound, provenance, conservation, documentation and sustainability.
The Violin Summit combines international expertise with the promotion of young talent and public outreach. The symposium and exhibition, the violin making academy and the international competition create a space in which knowledge is shared, traditional craftsmanship is further developed and new perspectives on the future of violin-making are opened up.
Location Klosters
The forestry and timber industries have shaped the Klosters region for centuries. In particular, they are closely linked to high-quality tonewood. The Violin Summit draws on this connection and also focuses on the origins of the material. This forges a link between regional resources, international expertise, craftsmanship of the highest calibre and musical practice.
As part of the Violin Summit, guided walks through the Klangholzwald forest in Klosters are also on offer.
Focus instrument 2027: Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù & the ‘Sainton’ 1744
The first issue features Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù (1698–1744) and one of the most significant violins from his later period: the ‘Sainton’, named after the French violinist Prosper Sainton (1813–1890), who owned and played the instrument for many years.
The ‘Sainton’ was comprehensively documented specifically for the Violin Summit under the direction of the curator Balthazar Soulier, in collaboration with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble.
The documentation comprises high-resolution tomographic images, visualisations derived from these, three-dimensional surface models, and selected wood and varnish analyses. It will be made available during the symposium and provided to participants in the violin-making competition.
The ‘Sainton’ can be heard at the opening concert of the Violin Summit – played by Arabella Steinbacher. This concert series also features other violins by Guarneri del Gesù: the ‘Moller’ from 1725 with Bomsori Kim, the ‘Rode’ from 1734 with Vilde Frang, and the ‘Caspar Hauser’ from 1724 and the ‘Caspar Hauser II’ with Oleg Kaskiv.
Symposium & Exhibition
Four days dedicated to Guarneri del Gesù: new insights into his life, work and reception, presented by international experts and accompanied by significant original instruments and large-format photographs by Jan Röhrmann and Atelier Cels.
Symposium & Exhibition
Violin Making Academy
During the five-day Academy, twelve participants will recreate the scroll of the Guarneri del Gesù ‘Sainton’ under the guidance of Philip Ihle (London) and Olivier Krieger (Swiss Violin Making School, Brienz). The workshop is open to the public daily from 11.00 am.
Applications will be accepted from January 2027.
Violin Making Academy
Violin Making Competition
Violin makers from all over the world are invited to explore the Guarneri del Gesù ‘Sainton’. Based on detailed documentation, participants will create facsimiles and develop their own interpretations of the historical instrument. The expert jury, comprising specialists and musicians, brings together diverse, complementary perspectives and assesses the craftsmanship and sound. The event concludes with the final concert and the awards ceremony.
Violin Making Competition
‘Meet the Violin’ concerts
From 2 to 5 August 2027, the ‘Meet the Violin’ concerts will take place alongside the festival concerts. The concerts last approximately 80 minutes without an interval and are accompanied by a discussion between the performers and experts about the respective instrument.
Monday, 2 August 2027, 7.00 pm, Kirche St. Jakob – MEET THE VIOLIN I – SAINTON 1744 (with Arabella Steinbacher)
Tuesday, 3 August 2027, 4.30 pm, Kirche St. Jakob – MEET THE VIOLIN II – RODE 1734 (with Vilde Frang)
Wednesday, 4 August 2027, 4.30 pm, Kulturhuus – MEET THE VIOLIN III – MOLLER 1725 (with Bomsori Kim)
Thursday, 5 August 2027, 4.30 pm, Kulturhuus – MEET THE VIOLIN IV – CASPAR HAUSER 1724 (with Oleg Kaskiv)
Friday, 6 August 2027, 3.00 pm, Kulturhuus – COMPETITION FINAL CONCERT with awards ceremony
Art & Scientific Committee
The Art & Scientific Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Violin Summit, bringing together diverse perspectives from the fields of music, violin making, science and instrumentology. In particular, it contributes to shaping the content of the artistic and scientific programme – including the topics and speakers for the symposium, the competition rules and judging criteria, and the content and formats of the planned exhibitions.
Support & Partners
The Violin Summit is made possible thanks to the support of dedicated partners and funding organisations from the worlds of culture, academia, violin making and the local region.
Supporting partners
Tharice Foundation
Walter Fischli Foundation
Collaborating partners
Swiss Violin Making School Brienz – partner of the Violin Making Academy
Florinett AG – partner in the field of tonewood and the regional timber industry
Other project partners
Media partners
The Strad – international media partner
In addition, the Violin Summit collaborates with violin makers, instrument owners and foundations, who contribute their expertise, instruments and other resources to the project.
Organisation & Contact
The Klosters Music Violin Summit is organised by the Kunst & Musik Klosters Foundation (Klosters Music).
Project team
Christoph Müller, Project lead Violin Summit; Designated Artistic Director, Klosters Music
Balthazar Soulier, Curator Violin Summit
Franziska von Arb, Managing Director Klosters Music & Violin Summit
Christine von Siebenthal, Marketing & PR Klosters Music & Violin Summit
Ramona Clavadetscher, Project Managemer Violin Summit
Contact
Klosters Music
Ramona Clavadetscher, Project Manager Violin Summit
violin.summit@klosters-music.ch, +41 76 296 28 00
Stand 30. September 2026