Verbier Festival Academy

2026 masterclasses

Shenzhen Concert Hall · 31 January – 8 February 2026

Seven masterclasses led by some of today’s most inspiring artists:

Timothy Ridout, Marc Bouchkov, Gautier Capuçon, Mischa Maisky, Janine Jansen and Minsoo Sohn — as well as Gábor Takács-Nagy, Music Director of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra.

Open to musicians aged 14 to 26, residing or studying in the Asia–Pacific region.

Eligibility

Applicants must be aged 14 to 26 as of 31 January 2026.

Applicants must reside or study in the Asia–Pacific region.
This includes countries and territories in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

Applicants must have a good command of English and be able to communicate with the teaching artist in this language.

All applications must be submitted via the Acceptd platform.

Applications will open on 26 November 2025 at 5:00 PM (China time) and will close on 28 December 2025 at 11:59 PM (China time).

Students applying for multiple classes may only be selected for one.

Back to list of sections

Application Requirements

• Contact information
• Application information
  • Nationality
  • Age
  • School / teacher
  • Curriculum vitae
• You as an artist
  • Short biography (in English / Mandarin optional)
  • Upload of a letter of recommendation (optional)
• Masterclass requirements
  • Student’s instrument and choice of masterclass
  • Repertoire upload
  • Personal introduction video
• Documents to provide
  • Portrait photo (headshot)
  • Copy of passport
  • Parental / guardian authorisation (for those under 18)
• Fee payment by credit card only

Back to list of sections

Repertoire

Applicants must submit / upload a live video recording of the exact work they wish to perform during the masterclass, if selected.

General requirements

• • The repertoire must consist of a single movement or a short work in one movement (maximum 10 to 12 minutes).
  • Works must be recorded in a single take, without editing, within the last three months.
  • Videos must be uploaded directly to Acceptd (MP4, MOV formats, etc.).
  • The video must feature clear sound and a stable image, showing the performer in full.

Guidelines by instrument

Strings (violin, viola, cello)

The chosen work must be composed for:

• solo instrument, or
• instrument and piano

Piano

The chosen work must be composed for:

• solo piano

Repertoire guidelines specific to each masterclass

For Gábor Takács-Nagy (Beethoven Sonatas Masterclass)

Applicants wishing to be considered for Gábor Takács-Nagy’s masterclass must upload:

• A single movement from a Beethoven violin or cello sonata
  (violin + piano or cello + piano)

This video will be used solely for Takács-Nagy’s selection.

For Marc Bouchkov & Janine Jansen

Applicants must upload a work of their choice (any composer) meeting the general requirements and composed for:

• solo violin, or
• violin + piano
• Applicants wishing to be considered for Janine Jansen’s masterclass may also propose a concerto movement, preferably from Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77.

For Timothy Ridout

Applicants must upload a work of their choice for solo piano, composed or arranged for:

• solo viola, or
• viola + piano

For Gautier Capuçon & Mischa Maisky

Applicants must upload a work of their choice (any composer) meeting the general requirements and composed for:

• solo cello, or
• cello + piano

For Minsoo Sohn

Applicants must upload a solo piano work of their choice meeting the general requirements.

Important notes

• Applicants may apply to be considered by several professors, but will only be assigned to one masterclass if selected.
• If you are applying for both Gábor Takács-Nagy’s masterclass and another violin or cello masterclass, and wish to be considered with the same Beethoven movement, please re-upload the same video in the upload section provided for the other professor(s).

Back to list of sections

Personal introduction video

A short video (60 to 90 seconds) in English, in which you tell us:

• Your name
• Your age
• Where you live or study
• Your instrument
• Why you wish to participate in these masterclasses

This video allows us to assess your level of English. A professional recording is not necessary.

Back to list of sections

Application fee

A non-refundable application fee of 55 EUR is required for each applicant.
Payment is made by credit card only on the Acceptd platform.

The entirety of the fees collected is intended to cover the costs related to the realization of this project.

Back to list of sections

What successful candidates receive

Successful candidates will be assigned to a single masterclass.

They will receive:

• A 30 to 40-minute lesson with their assigned professor
• Access to a rehearsal room with piano for a maximum of 3 hours the day before their masterclass
• For string players, an accompanist will be provided if necessary (see notes below regarding pianists)
• For students working with a pianist provided by the Festival :
  • 1 hour of rehearsal with the pianist the day before the masterclass
  • A 30-minute session with the pianist on the stage of the masterclass venue just before the session
• Two nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast; a room with two beds (maximum two people per room)
• Up to two tickets for their own masterclass, for guests and/or accompanying persons
• Up to two complimentary tickets for Festival concerts the day before and the evening of their masterclass (booking required, subject to availability)
• A certificate of participation

Important notes for string players (accompanists)

• String players may come with their own accompanist.
• If they wish to have a pianist assigned to them by the Festival, they must confirm this by January 11, 2026, when accepting their participation.
• Pianists provided by the Festival will be engaged and remunerated by the Verbier Festival Academy.

Back to list of sections

Student responsibilities

Students are responsible for:

• All travel and visa costs
• All meals and personal expenses
• Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
  The Shenzhen Verbier Festival assumes no responsibility for medical incidents, accidents, or loss of personal property.

Back to list of sections

Media release authorization

By participating in a Shenzhen Verbier Festival masterclass, the student (and their parent or legal guardian, if the student is a minor) grants the Festival the right and permission to photograph and record them, as well as to use their name, image, and performance.
These elements may be used, in whole or in part, for legitimate Festival purposes, including advertising, promotion, and communication, on all media platforms, current and future.

Back to list of sections

Important Dates

• Application deadline: December 28, 2025 (11:59 PM, China time)
• Results announced: no later than January 7, 2026
• Confirmation of participation by successful candidates: by January 11, 2026
• Deadline to confirm accompanist arrangements:

Students must indicate by January 11, 2026, whether they:

• will come with their own accompanist (counted as their only official accompanying person), or
• wish to have a pianist assigned to them by the Festival.

Back to list of sections