Arts Global

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation broke new ground recently by organising the first event with amateur musicians in its ten year history.

But these were amateur musicians with a difference -- they are three eminent members of the medical and educational professions in Lausanne, Professors Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen flute, François Spertini viola and Jean-Paul Dépraz cello.

Please click the underlined date for further information and photographs, and see the 4 December Events article to view the concert programme.

University of Melbourne research fellow and Swiss Global Artist Manager Dr Peter Tregear speaks out against the decline of music education in Australia. The article, featured in The Australian, is strongly supported by Swiss Global Founder and Director Heather de Haes.

On Sunday, 23 November, Geoffrey Simon and Advisory Board member Barry Conyngham present the Hong Kong premiere of Cala Tuent with the Pro Arte Orchestra of Hong Kong. The work had its world premiere in Palma, Majorca on 10 October and its Australian premiere on 7 November.

Please click the underlined date to view the concert poster.

Swiss Global is delighted to welcome its new mascot, Truffles, to the World Headquarters in Montreux, Switzerland. The seven-week-old chocolate Labrador Retriever was personally delivered by Foundation Director Heather de Haes from its breeder in London.

Please click the underlined date to view more photos.

Friends of the Foundation were treated to a House Concert at the Swiss Global World Headquarters in Montreux, Switzerland this past Monday evening. Young Artist Amir Farid piano, on the Foundation's official Bösendorfer instrument, performed solo Iranian music and accompanied Matthew Garrett tenor in a collection of arias and works of American musical theatre. Collaborative artist Rachel Kolly d'Alba violin performed works of Debussy and Ravel with Mr Farid at the piano.

Please click the underlined date for event photos.

Barry Conyngham, a member of the Foundation's Advisory Board, has been commissioned by Foundation Patron Don Pedro A. Serra to write a symphonic poem, Cala Tuent, evocative of the passage of a day in this spectacular bay on the northwest coast of Mallorca. With its world premiere in Palma on 10 October, Australian premiere in Brisbane on 7 November and Asian premiere in Hong Kong on 23 November, each conducted by the Foundation's Artistic Director, Geoffrey Simon and in the presence of the composer, the musical experience was enhanced by projections of a series of twelve watercolours painted especially to accompany the work by the Mallorcan-based artist Nils Burwitz.

By clicking on the date above you can see the twelve paintings in the Cala Tuent sequence. Visit the Events section to read further information about these concerts.

It is with great sadness that Heather de Haes wishes to announce to our Swiss Global family that our dearest David-Alexandre Borloz baritone died suddenly on Sunday morning, 19 October 2008.

We are all mourning the loss of this wonderful, caring and special man, whose musicianship and exceptional talent touched us all.

Our special thoughts are to his family and to his partner, Elizabeth Bailey.

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation is honoured to announce that Lord and Lady Foster of Thames Bank have agreed to join the distinguished list of Patrons of the Foundation. Baron Norman Foster is one of the world's leading architects and designers, and with his partnership, has been responsible for many of the most outstanding buildings and construction projects around the globe in recent years. Created a life peer in 1999, he holds the British Order of Merit, among many international honours.

Lady Foster, born in Spain, is the former Professor Dr Eléna Ochoa and Chairman of the Tate International Council and founder of the Ivory Press. The couple, together with their two children, have recently made their main residence in Switzerland.

Please click the underlined date to read the full article.

On 17 and 18 October, Le Quatuor Alma and Amanda Favier violin will perform in a 2-concert series at the picturesque Chateau de Montcaud in Provence, France. A member of the Relais & Chateaux group of luxury hotels, the Chateau de Montcaud is owned by Swiss Global Advisory Board member Rudy Baur. The hotel has served as the venue for three Jours des Arts festivals in past years, and while these upcoming concerts are not under the auspices of the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation, the Provence scenery and beautiful music will ensure an unforgettable holiday! Alain Duault is the featured lecturer for the events.

Sixteen of the world's leading harpists are meeting under the baton of Swiss Global Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon this week to record a double compact disc of enchanting harp repertoire. Co-produced by Cala Records and Swiss Global, the new album will be launched as part of Cala's London Sound Series, known for its "virtuoso single-instrument orchestras". Previous recordings in this series include arrangements for 16 horns, 48 violins, 48 violas, 24 cellos and several others.

The double disc set will be a featured addition to the Education Wing of Swiss Global.

Painter Madeleine Meehan, an East Hampton resident known for using musicians and dancers as subjects, created on-the-spot portraits of the Playhouse Project events. The Cuban-born artist maintains studios in Long Island and St Thomas, and has presented her works internationally in over 100 exhibitions. Her organisation, MostlyMusicArt, is described as "an extensive collection of unique, vibrant, rhythmic paintings and drawings..."

Please click the underlined date for enlarged images of the works, and see the articles in the Events section for additional information about the Playhouse Project activities.

A capacity crowd assembled in East Hampton, New York, the evening of 14 June for the 4th Annual Playhouse Project Benefit Concert, a Swiss Global collaborative event that raises funds to support, develop and implement performing arts programmes for the benefit of local South Fork students. Musicians included pianist Awadagin Pratt (pictured right), guitarist Robert Belinic and winners of the Elizabeth Brockman Awards in Classical Music.

Please click the underlined date to read the promotional material, see the Events section to view the full article and visit the Press section for the newspaper review.

As part of its continued partnership with the Playhouse Project of East Hampton, New York, on 14 June Swiss Global participated in an afternoon Workshop Rehearsal of Vivaldi's Gloria.

Please click the underlined date to read the promotional material, and see the Events section for the full article.

New and returning Swiss Global supporters are invited to click on one of the buttons below to make a quick, secure online donation through PayPal. (You do not need to be registered with PayPal to take advantage of this facility.)

We will gratefully acknowledge your generosity and extend the appropriate benefits of membership.

The Foundation is registered as a charity in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (in the USA: The American Friends of the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation). Please go to Bankers & Charitable Status for details, and to Membership & Sponsorship for information about our membership categories and benefits.

Swiss francs	UK£	US$

For four days in April, Swiss Global returned to the picturesque mountaintop town of Glion, Switzerland, high in the Alps, for an encore presentation of Impressionist music and art. Entitled Jours des Arts V: Impressionism and Beyond, Swiss Global's signature festival gave eager audience members a treat for the eyes, ears and taste buds!

Please see the Events section to read the full article, and click the underlined date to read the programme.

St John violin 1	St Mark violin 2	St Matthew viola	St Luke cello

The Evangelists, a rare matched set of string quartet instruments by J-B Vuillaume, have been acquired by the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation from the leading French luthier Etienne Vatelot.

Please click on the date above for further information.

The Foundation announces Swiss Global Artists Management, created to facilitate our promotion of some of the world's finest young talent. Dr Peter Tregear, the eminent Australian musician, lecturer, administrator and SGAF Advisory Board member, will head the team as Artists Manager. According to Dr Tregear, the organisation will offer "promotional, logistic and managerial support for Swiss Global artists as they develop their concert careers." Dr Tregear has had a successful and varied career to date as a performer and producer of concerts in both Europe and Australia, and will be drawing on that experience to develop a presence for Swiss Global artists, particularly in Australasia and Switzerland.

The Lake Geneva region, home to Swiss Global's International Headquarters, was the subject of a feature article written by the Foundation's Public Relations Advisor, Michael Green. The eminent Swiss-based British journalist was commissioned by Sawasdee, the official magazine of Thai Airways, to mark the occasion of the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand. King Bhumibol, the world's longest serving monarch, spent most of his youth and educative years in the region.

Please see the Press section to view the complete article.

The London-based philanthropic organisation announced the recent appointment of Swiss Global Founder and Director Heather de Haes to the role of Chairman. Ms de Haes currently serves as a Trustee of the Foundation, and was a featured speaker at the opening of its Australian branch in Sydney last November.

For nearly three decades, the Australian Music Foundation has offered financial support to outstanding young Australian musicians who wish to pursue advanced music education at top European institutions. Every year the Foundation makes grants to one or more carefully selected students whom the Australian Music Foundation and its specially selected panel of judges believe will excel in their artistry, and to whom financial support is essential to assist them in undertaking courses of study at the leading music colleges in Europe. Its President, Lord Carrington KG, and its Joint Life Presidents Dame Joan Sutherland DBE, Richard Bonynge CBE and Sir Charles Mackerras CH AC CBE, are supported by Patron-in-Chief HRH The Prince of Wales KG and Patron Mr Richard Alston, High Commissioner for Australia.

Swiss Global Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon (r) with the Foundation's US Counsel and Advisory Board member Jonathon Moore, high in the Alpine summits above Villars, Switzerland.

Relaxation was in order after discussions over our newly-achieved charitable status in the United States.

The Foundation proudly announces its charitable status in the United States. The "American Friends of the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation, Inc." is hereby recognized as a Public Charity, and under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, donations made to the charity are now tax-exempt in the United States. Similar status exists in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The newly-acquired charity status was made possible through the legal assistance of Advisory Board member Jonathon Moore at Moore & Bruce, LLP in Washington, D.C.

Please click the underlined date to read the "Determination Letter", the legal document guaranteeing Swiss Global's privileges as a United States Charity.

For additional information on how you may make a tax-deductible contribution to the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation, please see the Become a Member/Sponsor section.

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation is delighted to introduce its "new look" website. Designed in New York by Keith Mastandrea at Ambush Inc, the site includes multimedia capabilities and an enhanced visual presentation. The simplified layout maintains full and immediate access to Foundation information.

Please visit the Events section for a full briefing on the exciting Swiss Global concerts, projects, and other activities scheduled for 2008.

As part of its efforts to assist in the career development of its Young Artists, Swiss Global is supporting the baritone Thomas Weinhappel in an upcoming concert tour throughout Australia.  The Austrian baritone will be accompanied by pianist and Collaborative Artist Stephen Delaney, himself an Australian native now living in Vienna.  Concert dates are scheduled for early to mid-September, with tour cities including Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.  Schubert, Schumann and other Germanic notables will figure prominently in the performed repertoire, which is also expected to include works of modern Austrian composers.

Swiss Global Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon served as Juror at the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Competition, held 19 January in New York. Top awards were granted to Narek Hakhnazaryan cello and Pius Cheung marimba (pictured left), with the latter being granted the Swiss Global Performance Prize. This annually-donated prize carries a cash award and performance opportunity in Europe. As a result of Swiss Global's award, Mr Cheung will be presented in concert in Switzerland this October. The Foundation has appreciated a long and productive collaboration with the YCA organisation.

The southern coast of England saw the debut performances of pianist and Swiss Global Young Artist Benjamin Moser with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Concerts in Brighton and Eastbourne (12 and 13 January, respectively) featured the German artist in Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Michal Dworzynski conducting. Both performances produced thunderous ovation from the packed houses, and led to a well-received encore the second evening. Mr Moser's participation with the London Philharmonic was fully underwritten by the Foundation, which enjoys a successful collaboration with the orchestra.

Please see the Events section for further information.