Application period: Summer 2026

Assistant conductor position and conducting week

Conducting Week for young conductors with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester under the direction of chief conductor Michael Sanderling. At the end of the course, one of the participating candidates will be selected for the paid position of Assistant Conductor for the 2027/28 season. 

Dates:

Online-application deadline (on muvac)
01 August 2026

Workshop in the Orchestra House of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
22–26 September 2026

Public final concert, conducted by selected participants.
26 September 2026

The workshop is designed to give young conductors the opportunity to work with a professional orchestra at the highest level and to gain valuable practical experience. The course will conclude with a public concert on 26 September 2026, conducted by selected participants. A maximum of five candidates will be admitted as active participants, alongside passive participants who are welcome to observe the course. The age limit for applying is 35 years.

Conducting week’s repertoire:

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38 “Spring Symphony”

Richard Strauss (1864–1949)
Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 11

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Egmont Overture, Op. 84

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a

Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
Florian Abächerli, Horn

At the end of the conducting week, one participant will be selected by the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester to serve as Assistant Conductor.
Please note that only applicants with Swiss or EU/EFTA citizenship and residence in Switzerland or another EU/EFTA country are eligible. EU/EFTA citizens must be able to present an A1 certificate for work in Switzerland.
The selection will be made by the artistic committee under the direction of Michael Sanderling.
The Conducting Week and the assistant conductor position are made possible through the generous support of a Swiss private foundation.

Application Information

Online-application deadline: 01 August 2026
View the announcement and apply online via Muvac

Required material and documents for applying:

1.) Applicants are asked to submit a video recording of two works of their choice. The camera should be positioned from the orchestra’s side, focusing on the conductor. The video does not need to be professionally produced, but it must have adequate sound and image quality. The total duration should be at least 10 minutes.

The recording may be taken during a concert, rehearsal, or teaching situation; however, it should ideally not contain any spoken passages.

In addition, applicants are required to submit a short video statement in which they introduce themselves and explain their motivation for conducting in general, as well as their specific interest in the position of Assistant Conductor at the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester. This statement can be recorded in either German or English.

Both videos must be uploaded to Muvac and titled “Luzerner Sinfonieorchester Workshop Application.”

2.) Scan of  Passport or ID Card

3.) Biography (in text form)

4.) High-resolution photo of the applicant

5.) Contact details

Conductors up to and including the age of 35, who have sufficient conducting experience, are interested in both the workshop and the assistant conductor position, hold Swiss or EU/EFTA citizenship, reside in Switzerland or an EU/EFTA country, and meet the legal requirements for working in Switzerland.
The workshop is generously supported by a Swiss non-profit foundation. All participation and accommodation costs in Lucerne are covered by the organizer. Travel expenses to Lucerne will be reimbursed up to CHF 500 per person upon presentation of receipts.

Meals, required scores, and costs related to the video application must be covered by the applicants themselves.
Each candidate will receive at least two extended rehearsal sessions with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester under the direction of Michael Sanderling. All candidates must prepare the entire workshop repertoire at the highest professional standard. The assignment of repertoire will be announced shortly before the workshop begins. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory for both active and passive participants.

Following the fourth rehearsal, selected candidates will conduct the public final concert on 26 September 2026.
If the workshop is completed successfully, one of the participants will be offered a paid position as Assistant Conductor for the 2027/28 season.
The specific projects in which the Assistant Conductor will be expected or invited to participate will be determined on an individual basis following the official appointment. Typically, this involves approximately 10–13 projects per season.
One of the Assistant Conductor’s primary responsibilities is to support Chief Conductor Michael Sanderling in his day-to-day work, including attending rehearsals, preparing programs and scores, assisting with recordings, and related activities. This also includes selected projects with guest conductors.
In addition, the Assistant Conductor will have the opportunity to conduct a concert at the KKL Lucerne during the 2027/28 season and to work regularly with the orchestra throughout the season, including leading sectional rehearsals and, where necessary, stepping in at short notice in the event of cancellations or unforeseen absences.