The World Youth Music Festival is kicking off its next edition with fresh energy – now led by its new president, Olivier Scurio. The passionate musician and conductor has been Vice-Principal at the Zurich Conservatory of Music (MKZ), the largest music school in Europe, since April 2024. From 2006 to 2024, he directed the Dübendorf Music School. He also conducts the Mönchaltorf Music Association.

As a trained musician and conductor, he loves making music together with others. For him, culture is an essential part of both society and personal development. With his open, humorous, and hands-on approach, he inspires people through music and brings new momentum to the WJMF.

Olivier Scurio is also a man who values movement, good living, and a strong connection to nature. Above all, he cares deeply about respectful, committed, and joyful collaboration.

The World Youth Music Festival 2024 was unforgettable for everyone who attended. Many thanks to all the clubs from Switzerland and abroad, all the helpers, the audience and everyone who contributed in any way to making this an unforgettable weekend together!

The pictures in the gallery were taken by Roger Stöckli and André Albrecht.

You’ll find the gallery here.

We took countless pictures of the festival and a large selection can be found here on Instagram.

Bruno Rotach has made many videos. His videos can be found here.

We wish everyone a good summer and lots of music!

Unfortunately DJ Bobo can’t be a part of our World Yout Music Festival in Zürich. He is sorry about that and also are we but we are very happy about his video for all participants. Thanks DJ Bobo!!

In recent months, the available places in the organizing committee have filled slowly but surely.

The successful implementation of a major event such as the World Youth Music Festival needs a committed organizing committee as well as the active support of many volunteers. Especially the OK president, Rolf Walter, has invested a lot of time and energy to find the right people for the vacant positions in the organizing committee. Most ministries have now been occupied, but we still need more people involved. The orange-coloured boxes in the organizational chart show the positions still to be filled. In addition, we are looking for many volunteers. For reception, catering, transportation, orchestra assistance, stage construction and in many other areas, helping hands are needed.

Overall, we are dependent on the support of around 600 volunteers. If you are interested to see behind the scenes of a major event and actively assist, please contact us!

The festival rules of the World Youth Music Festival have been revised.

The new version is available in three languages. The Swiss Youth Music Association (SJMV) has revised its rules for the Swiss Youth Music Festival. The World Youth Music Festival took the opportunity to take over these adjustments and revise its own rules. The biggest new feature is the addition of the category Big Band. Moreover there are adjustments concerning the Show competition and adjudication. For our international guests the rules have been translated into English and French.

During the summer holidays, eight young people from the Youth Music Dietikon participated for a photo shoot for the WJMF appearance.

For a striking look it takes good pictures. The renowned photographer Sandro Bäbler has succeeded fabulously under the direction of JANUAR Designbureau to stage the shoot. Eight young people from the Youth Music Dietikon had agreed to take part in a photo shooting during the summer holidays. To be photographed by a professional photographer was a new experience for most of them. Sandro Bäbler made sure everyone felt comfortable in front of the camera. The result is impressive images which can be seen here on the website and will be eligible for additional advertising material such as posters and the program booklet.

Many thanks to the Youth Music Dietikon for the short-term readiness to participate in the photo shoot as well as the photographer Sandro Bäbler for the beautiful pictures which give a face to the World Youth Music Festival!

Big Band is a new category at the World Youth Music Festival Zurich 2017. We look forward to many registrations of Big Bands from around the world.

Internationally, there are many youth Big Bands that belong to a school or are organized as an association. The World Youth Music Festival Zurich 2017 would like to use this potential and has therefore launched the new category Big Band. At the competition every Big Band plays a self-selected repertoire of swing, jazz, funk, rock, pop or Latin for 20 minutes. Admitted in the competition are groups with a traditional Big Band instrumentation (at least 4 saxophones, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets and a rhythm section consisting of bass, piano and percussion). Additional blower(s), an expanded rhythm section and singer(s) are permitted.

A distinction is made between Big Bands with and without vocals. Depending on the number of participating Big Bands there may also be a division into categories of skills for the evaluation. We would be delighted if many youth Big Bands take the opportunity to come to the WJMF 2017 in Zurich!

Questions?
René Halbheer is your contact, 
rene.halbheer@wjmf.ch