New artistic director for Collegium Novum Zürich
Following a multi-stage recruitment process, Collegium Novum Zürich has appointed 29-year-old cultural manager Johannes Knapp as its new artistic director. On September 15, 2019, he will succeed Jens Schubbe, who has been at the helm of the ensemble for nine years, and who will be moving to the Dresden Philharmonic.
Collegium Novum Zürich (CNZ) is a prestigious contemporary music ensemble. Together with its artistic committee, Johannes Knapp will develop new cultural perspectives and shape the program from the 2020/21 season onwards. In addition, he will be in charge of expanding the young audience through new forms of presentation, as well as strengthening the ensemble's international position. Artistic planning for the 2019/20 season is still being devised by Jens Schubbe. Administration will continue to be managed by Alexander Kraus.
Johannes Knapp, born in 1990, studied cultural management, cello, philosophy and musicology in Frankfurt am Main and Saarbrücken. After working in Salzburg (Biennale) and Lausanne (first as Artistic Coordinator, then as Director of the Swiss Musicians' Association), he was appointed Director of the Nicati Competition in 2018. Within the latter framework, he initiated a category dedicated to innovative performances situated at the interface between contemporary music and other forms of expression. Johannes Knapp regularly appears as an author for major musical institutions, including the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and the Lucerne Festival. In September 2019, he will be stepping down from his position as Union Secretary of the Swiss Union of Musician Artists to devote himself entirely to the Collegium Novum Zürich.
