Johannes Schlaefli is currently chief conductor of the symphony orchestra Collegium Musicum in Basel and Professor for Orchestral Conducting at the Zurich University of the Arts.

As one of the most highly sought after conducting teachers, Schlaefli is in demand throughout the world and collaborates with institutions including the Sibelius Academy Helinski, the Aspen Music Festival, USA, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and he also serves as “head of teaching” at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival Conducting Academy. As a guest professor, he has taught throughout Europe at the Music Universities of Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg and Manchester. Furthermore, a regular co-operation as a lecturer and juror also links him to the prestigious “Dirigentenforum” of the German Music Council.

Johannes Schlaefli led the Basel Chamber Orchestra “Serenata” and the Bern Chamber Orchestra before leading the Kurpfälzische Kammerorchester in Mannheim as principal conductor from 2013-2019. Presently, he also leads the Alumni-Sinfonieorchester Zürich and the Academic Chamber Orchestra Zürich. As a guest conductor, he has performed with and conducted orchestras including the Tonhalleorchester Zürich, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Munich Radio Orchestra and Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana to name a few.

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James Lowe is the 8th Music Director of the Spokane Symphony, USA, a position he has held since the 2019/20 season.

His work as a conductor has ranged over five continents including collaboration with orchestras in the UK and Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA. Passionately committed to the belief that classical music is for everyone, he balances his conducting schedule with his work to engage new audiences and a long-standing commitment to youth music.

Lowe’s career has taken him to five continents, collaborating with leading orchestras in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the United States. As a guest conductor he has appeared with ensembles including the Indianapolis Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé Orchestra, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic, Luxembourg Philharmonic, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, St. Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony, and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.

Previously, Lowe served as Chief Conductor of the Prueßisches Kammerorchester (Germany) and the Vaasa City Orchestra (Finland), as Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and as Orchestras Advisor to the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. His work as Artistic Director of the Hallé Harmony Youth Orchestra was featured in a four-part documentary broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. A recipient of the Bernard Haitink Fund for Young Talent, he also worked as Assistant Conductor to Haitink in performances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Educated at the University of Edinburgh, Lowe further developed his craft as Benjamin Zander Conducting Fellow with the Boston Philharmonic and in studies with renowned teachers including Jorma Panula, Neeme Järvi, Bernard Haitink, and Valery Gergiev.

In addition to his conducting work, Lowe is an active educator and conducting teacher. He is a regular guest teacher with the conducting class at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, has frequently taught alongside Professor Johannes Schlaefli in international workshops, and worked as a guest teacher of the conducting class at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, and the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide.