Making Dreams a Reality

Depending on each artist's individual needs as soon as they are selected we invite each one of them to start a conversation together, to determine their personal goals and how we can tailor the programme to their needs, for optimum career growth. 

The programme provides an opportunity for the young artist to perform a concert which is broadcast live on www.classeek.com and can be viewed all over the world, allowing the artist to reach larger audiences. 

Surrounding their concert opportunity, which is recorded with optimal audio-visual quality, to use for publicity, Classeek also provides professional photo shoots for artists’ promotion, career and media coaching, and interviews which give these young artists a real voice. 

‘The programme aims to give them a platform so we can hear their unique voice.’ 

On the evening of the concert, a cocktail event is organised to allow the artists to meet with an invited audience enthusiastic about discovering these young talents. The audience is very diverse from promoters, conductors, journalists, patrons to music lovers. In the days surrounding the concert, other enrichment activities are organised. For artists who would like to develop their teaching skills, a day of masterclasses is organised in partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne. We also provide a complete digital profile and press kit, and artists are presented with the opportunity to utilise a professional photo shoot, a filmed interview and their concert videos to further enhance their portfolios, as well as improving their media skills. 
                                 
Part of this discussion are also opportunities for personal development including tools for their career, media, PR and career coaching. Over the years we have curated a pool of specialised coaches in different domains such as career coaching, media coaching, and depending on the artists needs and base we put the necessary coaching in place. 

Classeek acts as a conduit to industry or other relevant figures, to help with advice or stepping stones to potential future career prospects. Classeek also endeavours to promote their engagements, both with Classeek and other professional engagements, via social media to increase overall visibility within the industry. Last but very important we have been meticulously developing partnerships for providing concert opportunities for the artists on our programme.

For violinist Bilal Alnemr, the Ambassador Programme 2022-23 was a perfect support for him at this stage of his professional journey. He had a very uncommon and interesting path and the attention and trust that Classeek has offered was very valued. 

‘Being on the Classeek Ambassador Programme this season has given me strong pillars for the beginning of my professional career. Thanks to this programme, I was able to understand better my needs and values as a musician. I was fortunate to work very closely with ambassador Sonia Simmenauer, thanks to whom I gained confidence to make better choices in my musical and personal life. Throughout this year I made very important connections with orchestras, conductors, agents, TV broadcasting channels, journalists, and marketing services. I was also lucky to give a live-streamed concert in Classeek’s concert hall, to record the Brahms violin concerto, and to connect with festivals and foundations. On top of it all, Classeek has made one of my childhood dreams come true by organising a pre concert ahead of Maxim Vengerov’s performance in Geneva’s Victoria Hall, where I had the chance to play before Vengerov, and get to know him afterwards. Classeek is difficult to describe as one thing. I truly believe that this programme is an essential transition between artist studies and the real professional world, offering all tools of understanding.’

For pianist Julia Hamos, she says “it’s much more than a concert. What mainly makes a difference is that we care to listen.” We are going to concerts to listen to them when we can. She also mentioned the opportunities that came to her after her concert thanks to the live streaming and video recording. 

In addition to supporting the Ambassadors' protégés, Classeek would like to give artists who have not had this privileged access an opportunity to participate in the programme. 

Julia’s testimonial: ‘Classeek is unique amongst young artist schemes in that it tailors itself to each individual artist. If you find yourself interested in an idea or project of your own, Classeek seems to have a wide range of tools to help you on your way. It has excellent platforms and personal, judgement-free, caring support for artists to further develop their own voice.’

For the first time last year, we expanded the programme from nominations to applications.  It's now possible for any young instrumentalist and composer who meets the application requirements to apply on www.classeek.com. This year we have also invited the semi finalists of this open application to join some of the Programme artists to our summer gathering from 9th to the 13th of July 2023 and it was a great experience!

“Artists that perform in the concerts are not only the nominated artists and the winner of the open application. It’s inclusive and it’s a real community. Other friends of mine have performed there as well.” - Julia Hamos

For the digital platform it allows in federating this wonderful community of young artists and industry professionals and opening it up to the world!
 
What role does new technology play in your projects?

Today technology is at the centre of everything. Here at Classeek we are always thinking of how technology can help enhance what we do already. During the pandemic we have developed the live streaming platform of the concerts. Avoiding cancelling the young artists and making it possible to listen to them from home.

With ClasseekLink, since the start, we helped artists in putting their energy and understanding the importance of using digital tools in their professional lives. We have been visiting academies to present the tool to their students and how they can make the most of it. Digital profiles are now part of the community and one can use the discovery search tool to discover full artist profiles or industry professionals to reach out in a credible way and create a real network. Since we launched the App, and with our specialised private group function, Summer academies use these groups to stay in touch and share important information with their resident musicians through our app accessible on Apple and Google play stores. The students are updated, real-time, on important notices through push notifications on their mobiles and don’t miss a moment of what’s happening!

It has a great feeling of community where serendipitous moments can be experienced! On the web version we have developed a news feed aggregating classical music news thanks to AI across specialised and general media. And there is more to come!

Classeek is all about new ideas and technologies, but you present your performances at a venue that is not “new" at all. Tell us about your concert hall in Aubonne, Switzerland.

True! The concert hall is located in Aubonne and it’s an 18th century riding school with a wooden mansarded rooftop. It goes with the music that is performed and is the revival of the music salon of the 18th 19th centuries but with today's technology. 

In the evening we always light the chandeliers for the concerts. The artist's interviews are also held there around the day of the concert. We gave it a fresh twist, and the name was given to contrast the very classical side of it. Like it or not, we called it The Showroom! 
 

Where do you see Classeek in 10 years? What are your goals for the future?

In 10 years we see Classeek as a reference global community with all the necessary tools and resources that can help young artists from all over the world to be discovered and find their careers. 

The aim of Classeek is to help artists get discovered, create more opportunities for them, bring quality music to more people, and make the world a better place! If we reach this goal in 10 years we can be happy!

By then, we hope to still be in touch with all these artists who jump started at Classeek, to have helped discover talents from remote countries thanks to the platform, and have contributed to their careers. 
 

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Classeek has been an Associate Member of WFIMC since 2022.

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