ABOUT VILLARS MUSIC

Where it begins

2022

Villars Music is rooted in Villars-sur-Ollon, a place of rare natural beauty in the Swiss Alps. Its home, Villars Palace, looks out onto mountains, forests and open sky, a setting that shapes everything that happens here.

This landscape isn't a backdrop. It's part of the work. Artistic training, physical and mental preparation, conversation and rest all unfold in dialogue with the natural world around them.

A large hotel building with multiple balconies and a sign that reads 'VILLARS PALACE' in a mountainous area with dense forests and green hills surrounding it.

HOW IT STARTED

Villars Music was founded by Aline Champion, violinist and First Violin of the Berliner Philharmoniker for over twenty-five years, and Professor at HEM Geneva.

Her own path began with her first solo concert at twelve and led through study with Philipp Hirschhorn, Yehudi Menuhin and Itzhak Perlman to more than two decades on some of the world's most demanding stages. Along the way, it shaped a conviction: a musician's life is more than technique. It is artistic, physical, mental and human, all at once.

That conviction became Villars Music: a place where young musicians are accompanied not only in their playing, but in becoming who they are.

A message from our ambassador, polar explorer Robert Swan, on the common ground between polar exploration and music: resilience, curiosity, preparation and the pursuit of a shared vision.

Artists & Mentors

Villars Music brings together soloists, orchestral musicians and specialists who shape the artistic growth and human potential of every participant.

  • A man with gray hair and glasses holding a violin and looking at the camera against a blue background.

    Prof. Kolja Blacher

    Violin · Former First Concertmaster, Berliner Philharmoniker

  • An older man in a suit holding a violin, standing against a dark background.

    Prof. Rainer Honeck

    Violin · Concertmaster, Wiener Philharmoniker

  • A woman with short blonde hair holding a violin against a yellow background.

    Prof. Vineta Sareika

    Concertmaster, Los Angeles Philharmonic (from 2026/27) · Former First Concertmaster, Berliner Philharmoniker

  • A smiling older man with glasses holding a violin and a bow against a bright yellow background.

    Prof. Walter Küssner

    Viola · Member of the Board, Berliner Philharmoniker

  • Man holding a violin against a gray background

    Antoine Tamestit

    Viola · International Soloist

  • Prof. Tabea Zimmermann

    Prof. Tabea Zimmermann

    Viola · International Soloist

  • A man with short brown hair and blue eyes holding a violin over his shoulder, standing in front of a dark red and black background.

    Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer

    Viola · International Soloist

  • A middle-aged man with dark hair and a beard, playing a classical guitar, with the head of a cello visible near his face, against a dark wall background.

    Prof. Gary Hoffman

    Cello · International Soloist

  • A man in a black blazer holding a cello and bow, posing against a gray background.

    Prof. Jens Peter Maintz

    Cello · International Soloist

  • A man with glasses, a beard, and a mustache smiling while holding a violin.

    Prof. Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt

    Cello · International Soloist

MEET ALL ARTISTS & MENTORS

Distinguished fellows

Young artists of distinction, recognised through significant prizes and accomplishments, who hold a particular association with Villars Music.

  • A young woman holding a violin in front of a brown background.

    Songha Choi

    Violinist

    Winner, Villars Music Academy 2024 · Laureate, Queen Elisabeth Competition 2024 · Top prizes at the Montreal International Violin Competition 2023, the Windsor String Competition 2022, the Premio Lipizer International Violin Competition 2020 and the Menuhin International Competition 2016

  • A young woman with curly dark hair smiling and playing the violin outdoors in a natural setting with trees and greenery.

    Yesong Sophie Lee

    Violinist

    Winner, Villars Music Academy 2025 · Youngest prizewinner, Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition 2022 · First prize, Menuhin International Competition 2016 (Junior) · Special prizes at the Montreal International Violin Competition and the Menuhin Competition · Prizewinner, Seoul International Violin Competition

  • Young woman with long brown hair smiling, holding a wooden cello, standing against a plain white wall.

    Eva Arderíus

    Cellist

    Winner, Villars Music Academy 2026 · Critics' Prize, El Primer Palau 2025 · First prize, María Herrero International Competition 2024 and Juventudes Musicales de España Competition · Second prize, David Popper International Competition 2017 · Twice named most outstanding student in her chair at the Reina Sofía School of Music

leadership

founders

  • A woman smiling, holding a violin in one hand and a bow in the other.

    Prof. Aline Champion, President

    Violinist

    First Violin, Berliner Philharmoniker, for over 25 years · Professor, HEM Geneva · Honorary Professor, Shanghai Conservatory · Certified psychotherapy practitioner (Germany) · Performance Coach

  • Smiling man with glasses holding a violin and bow against a yellow background.

    Prof. Walter Küssner, Co-founding Member

    Violist

    Member of the Orchestra Board, Berliner Philharmoniker · Professor, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin

  • Portrait of a middle-aged man in a gray suit with glasses, standing with arms crossed against a light gray background.

    Maître Pierre Ochsner, Vice-President

    Lawyer

    Founding partner, OA Legal · Lawyer, Geneva Bar

advisory board

Villars Music is guided by an Advisory Board bringing artistic, strategic and business experience to its long-term development.

  • Portrait of a woman with light brown hair wearing a red blazer and a gold necklace, smiling against a gray background.

    Anna Celner

    Strategic Advisor, Board Member, Executive Coach

    Former Vice Chairman and Senior Partner, Deloitte · Strategic Advisor, Global Learning Council, Villars Institute · Board Member, Aiglon ACSSA

  • David Gann, CBE FREng, Advisor

    David Gann, CBE FREng

    Emeritus Professor, Imperial College London

    Emeritus Professor, Imperial College London · Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford · Board Member, London Symphony Orchestra · Chair, LSO Live · Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering

ambassadors

  • Close-up of a man wearing a warm hat and ski goggles, with snow-covered mountains in the background.

    Robert Swan, OBE

    Polar Explorer

    First person to walk to both the North and South Poles · Founder, 2041 Foundation · UNEP Goodwill Ambassador for Youth

  • A man with curly hair, wearing glasses and a light blue shirt, standing indoors against a plain wall.

    Tom Service

    Music journalist, BBC

    Presenter, The Listening Service and the BBC Proms · Visiting Professor of Music, Gresham College

  • Woman holding a violin, looking to the left, with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a sleeveless black top, against a plain white background.

    Ava Bahari

    Award-winning violinist

    Former participant, Villars Music Academy · ECHO Rising Star 2026/27 · The Strad Rising Star

core team

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing hoop earrings and a black shirt, smiling and looking at the camera, against a plain light-colored background.

    Carolina Mina

    Communications & Project Manager

    Brand strategist and digital content creator · Communications Manager, Villars Institute · Master's in International Business, Universidade do Minho