Christoph Müller Stands Down from the Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy

By the time he stands down in 2025, Müller will have led 24 editions of the Swiss festival

Conductor Christoph Müller has announced that he will stand down from his position as Artistic Director of the Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy. He will complete the current three-year program cycle, titled "Transformation 2023-2025," before stepping away from the role.

Over the course of the 24 total seasons he will have presided over, Müller has introduced a number of new initiatives that have grown the festival's profile. Chief among these was the Gstaad Conducting Academy, which launched in 2014 — and made the festival a center for young conductors to develop their craft.

Müller also established lasting relationships between the festival and renowned musicians and ensembles — including Cecilia Bartoli, Hélène Grimaud, Jonas Kaufmann, Jaap van Zweden, Sir András Schiff, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

During Müller's tenure, the festival audience has grown from an original audience of 14,000 to a current audience of around 27,000 — a substantial increase that reflects the success of the initiatives Müller has put in place.

"I owe a lot to the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, and I continue to approach my role for this beloved Festival with immense enthusiasm," Müller said. "However, after careful consideration and thought, I’ve come to the decision that, following the 'Transformation' cycle in the autumn of 2025 and my 24^th Festival, it’s the perfect time to hand over the artistic direction."

"Back in 2002, when I was just a little over 30 years old, the Board of Directors gave me the opportunity to completely reshape the Festival," he continued. "This approach allowed for organic growth, and new formats and structures naturally integrated into the Festival’s expansion. Both the Board of Directors and the team embraced and implemented my ideas and visions, which brought me immense satisfaction year after year. I am convinced that the Festival is currently in a strong position and ready to enter into a new era."

"However, two Festival editions still lie ahead, and I will devote all my energy into ensuring they become a success. I’m very much looking forward to creating and enjoying the programmes for 2024 and 2025."