Basel Sinfonietta appoints new assistant conductor
The Swiss-born conductor’s new role will also see him involved in the Basel Sinfonietta Academy‘s, which allows young female musicians, conductors and composers to explore contemporary orchestral music by giving them hands-on experience.
According to Press releasea search for candidates to become assistant to the principal conductor of the ensemble Baldur Bronnimann was conducted by a search committee, with Zufferey ultimately being selected to take on this new role.
“We are delighted to work with Laurent Zufferey, who won us over with his competence, his personality and his enthusiasm for contemporary music”, declared Daniela Martin, general manager of the Basel Sinfonietta. “As a representative of the young generation of conductors, Laurent Zufferey will have the opportunity to acquire significant professional experience within a large orchestra.
In his new role, Zufferey will provide assistance and support Brönnimann in his rehearsals from May – helping with ensemble projects, coupled with several world and Swiss premieres along the way.
Zufferey graduated with a Master of Music in Performance in 2017 from the Royal Northern College of Music. As part of his studies, Laurent was assistant to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra which saw him work with conductors such as Vasily Petrenko and Joshua Weilerstein.
Less than a year ago, Zufferey was invited by Paavo Jarvi to join him for his first Academy of Conducting at the Tonhalle in Zürich, in which he received the audience award. Later, Theodore Currentzis invited him to MusicAeterna in Lucerne where he had the opportunity to conduct the first movement of Mahler’s 5th Symphony at the KKL Concert Hall.