New director for the Academy

Currently Artistic Director of the Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, Stephen McHolm will take up his position as Director of the Verbier Festival Academy (VFA) on December 1, 2016. In his position as Artistic and Administrative Head at Honens, which he has held since 2004, he has directed the competition, organized a Festival and annual chamber music recitals, and initiated music education and outreach programs in communities across Canada. He has devoted much time and energy to fostering the emergence and career development of young artists. He is also a passionate amateur pianist.

"The Verbier Festival is the ultimate musical event," says Stephen McHolm. And in so many ways. Its commitment to music education is world-renowned. Indeed, two of our last three Honens Competition winners were Verbier Festival Academy alumni! Becoming the Academy's director is therefore a real honor for me, and I'm very much looking forward to leading it into a new future. I see the Academy becoming an essential rite of passage for every young artist."

Stephen McHolm replaces Christian Thompson who, over the past twelve years, has made the Verbier Festival Academy one of the world's leading training grounds for talented young musicians.