Review of Astona International 2025
The 37th Astona Summer Music Academy: successful and at a turning point
Astona has continued its dynamic development in recent years. The summer course was fully booked with 31 participants from 18 countries, including 19 violinists, 5 violists, 6 cellists, and 1 pianist. The exceptional level of the participants made it possible to perform one of the great masterpieces of music history at the orchestra concert on July 31 in St. John's Church: Schubert's “Death and the Maiden” in Gustav Mahler's arrangement for string orchestra. Andrea Tarrodi's “Bird of Paradise” (2008) was also performed. The interpretations, conducted by Joonas Pitkänen, were enthusiastically received by the audience. At the gala concert on August 2 in St. Johannes, the first movements of Ernst Chausson's Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet and Mozart's String Quintet No. 3 were performed by the best students of their age group. These were complemented by solo works by Rebecca Clark (viola), Camille Saint-Saëns (violin), and Igov Frolov (violin) with three other highly talented students. The preceding concerts with solo and chamber music in Zug, Baar, and Unterägeri were also thoroughly enjoyable and of a very high standard.
The fucutly members have once again worked exceptionally well together this year. Arik Braude (violin), Sophie Arbuckle (viola), and Rebecca Firth (cello) joined the existing violin instructors Ruth Hahn and Alf Richard Kraggerud, conductor Joonas Pitkänen, and pianist François Killian. At the beginning of June, long-time violin teacher and deputy director Kristoffer Dolatko died suddenly. With him, we lost not only one of our most loyal violin teachers, but also a highly respected and knowledgeable lecturer with unique qualities. As fate would have it, director Nancy Chumachenco fell ill with a viral infection shortly before the course began, so she was also unable to participate. Alf Richard Kraggerud took over the musical direction at short notice.
Director Nancy Chumachenco had made a momentous decision even before this year's course. Given her age of 82½, she had come to the conclusion that it was time to hand over responsibility to someone else. In accordance with her wishes, Alf Richard Kraggerud took on this task. Conductor Joonas Pitkänen was newly elected to the board and appointed deputy director. This means that the artistic direction has been reorganized.
Nancy Chumachenco founded Astona in 1988 with the aim of bringing together highly talented young musicians from all over the world to provide them with special support from teachers of the highest caliber. The result is a globally unique institution that has been in existence for 37 years. This is thanks to the vision, drive, and perseverance of its founder. In the future, she will represent Astona as Honorary President.
Astona will enter a new era in 2026 and will continue to be anchored in the Zug region.
Christoph Balmer, Managing Director
Astona is - and always has been - about NOURISHING TALENT. It is about musicianship and about honesty, dedication, enthusiasm, high expectations, and the incredible fun of being together for two weeks. We provide experience in private instruction, chamber music, orchestra and performance. That’s all we need.
Nancy Chumachenco, August 2025
Some feedbacks from the students
A huge thank you to Astona. I think these two weeks have been an incredible experience for me. I am convinced that I have learned a lot and now know how I can improve in the future. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Violin student from the USA (16)
Participating for the 5th time
These two weeks in Astona are not only the HIGHLIGHT of my year, but also the MOST IMPORTANT two weeks of the year for me! I learn so much in Astona and I will never forget these experiences!
This year, I played in the Brahms Quintet and enjoyed it immensely. Thank you very much for allowing me to play in this ensemble!
Violin and viola student from Germany (12), participating for the second time
My son returned home from Sonnenberg almost a week, and he's still completely immersed in the spirit of the Astona Music Academy. He truly nourished, enjoyed, improved, and developed his music knowledge there.
I want to express my gratitude to the faculty members for the incredible effort they put into supporting these talented teenagers. The Astona Music Academy provides everything they need: excellent teachers for individual lessons, chamber music, and orchestra. Working in a group with talented and music-loving students on orchestra and chamber music, living for music, and sharing their passion together made for an unforgettable experience for my son. He was honored to be a part of it and will remember it for the rest of his life. Thank you again for a wonderful two weeks.
Mother of a violin student from Switzerland (13)
Concert reviews of Zuger Zeitung Newspaper
Opening concert of 28th July
Gala Concert of August 2
