Rising Talents: the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra

In her series Verbier Generation Stories, produced for medici.tv's Studio 30 at the 30th anniversary edition of the Verbier Festival, musicologist, author, producer, and lecturer Michèle Larivière takes us behind the scenes for a look at the colorful personalities and supportive organizations that form the lifeblood of this one-of-a-kind Alpine event. This second chapter focuses on the world-renowned Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra, perhaps the world's most prestigious training ensemble, which began as the Verbier Festival Music Camp in 2013. Musicians aged 15 to 17 vie for a spot in this extraordinary group each summer, applying in great numbers for the chance to benefit from stimulating orchestral workshops and playful, innovative coaching strategies. Larivière talks with conductor James Gaffigan and violinist Nicola Benedetti, both of whom have graduated from the VFJO to successful international careers!