Welcome to the 37th Astona Summer Music Academy for highly-gifted, young string players and pianists!

Saturday, July 19 - Sunday, August 3, 2025

at Sonnenberg in Baar (near Zug), Switzerland

I have such fond and vivid memories from my time at Astona. I truly believe that Nancy Chumachenco has impacted so many people’s lives for the better through Astona alone. Indeed, the first course that I went on directly lead to my deciding seriously to pursue my cello studies in Manchester, and subsequently in London. Astona International is the directors testament to hard work, dedication and vision over these many years combined with a continually cultivated and brilliant faculty, staff, and of course, beautiful surroundings.

Truly an incredible achievement.

Adam Cubitt (22), Cello, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 at Astona

Astona is an international Summer Music Academy, accompanying many students on their path to a musical career and providing them 15 days with a free and protected space in which to work and grow and enjoy.

Founder (1988) and director

Nancy Chumachenco

Students and applicants

Click the next pages to get all information

Closing date for application

March 15, 2025

Application Form2025.pdf

Adobe Acrobat Document 272.8 KB

Download

I had a wonderful time at Astona and I’ve learned so many things! About music and the music professional life, but also about myself, my instrument, and about other people’s perspectives. All of the lessons, both chamber music and solo lessons, were amazing. And the orchestra was very fun and motivating.

Violin student (f, 16), Sweden, participatied in 2024

Get in the mood. Here is a review of Astona 2024.

In collaboration with
AEGERI CONCERTS
of Keresztes Artists, Baar

Astona International - a video portrait (2019)

“30 years of Astona”: Report in the main News edition of Swiss National Television , July 21, 2018

Video Recordings of 2011 - 2016, 2021 - 2023 can be whatched on Youtube.com/Astona Recordings

Video-Recordings of 2017 - 2019 can be whatched on facebook.com/astona-international/videos

I started playing the cello after I heard a boy play and fell in love with the sound. My teacher was Nancy Chumachenco. Right from the start, she demanded a lot, but she didn't just support talented students for 30 or 60 minutes a week, but much more. There was chamber music and every year she organised a summer course with students from other countries. Meeting young people from South Africa, Finland or the USA was totally exciting for a twelve-year-old. We formed a network of friends that we could fall back on when we got older. Not many people were lucky enough to be guided by someone like Nancy Chumachenco from the moment they picked up an instrument.

Christian Poltéra, born 1977, participant 1988 – 1993, Renowned international soloist and chamber musician, professor at the Lucerne University of Music

At the age of 15-17, I was lucky enough to play the piano three times with Astona. I can say that these were the most important years of my musical development.

Philipp Jordan, born 1974, participant
1980 - 1982, Musical director of the Vienna State Opera

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for Astona. I had the best time and learnt so much. This course has really positively impacted me by playing and I left feeling so inspired and excited to keep improving. Everyone was so wonderful and the staff were so incredible.

Viola student (female 23), from Australia participant in 2023

I am so infinitely grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in Astona and very thankful for all the effort that you and your team put into making Astona online possible and so successful I had a really great time and learned so much more than I expected. I believe Astona has had a big impact on me as a musician.
Cellist (female, 16), from Iceland, participant in 2021 (Astona Online)