Academy of Music "Klassik"

The Academy of Music was founded in 1905 and was the first conservatory in German-speaking Switzerland. In 2008, it was integrated in the larger University of Applied Sciences and Art of Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and together with the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Jazz Institute make up the FHNW Academy of Music. Academy of Music and Schola Cantorum Basiliensis are located in the heart of the Basel’s historic old town: on the Musik Akademie Basel campus (“Grossbasel”). The Jazz institute on the left bank of the Rhine (“Kleinbasel”).

Cooperation with cultural and educational institutions

The Academy of Music's teaching staff, students and study programmes all benefit from the close links between the institute and the Musik Akademie Basel, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, the Jazz Institute, both with their Music Schools, and the University of Basel.
The Academy of Music is an integral part of the dynamic and vibrant Basel music scene. Thanks to the School’s excellent connections, its students are able to acquire valuable experience working on larger projects with the likes of the Theater Basel, the Gare du Nord, the Phoenix Ensemble and the Basel Orchestras.

Main focus

New Music is central to both teach and research at the Academy of Music. The Academy has an electronic studio, two ensembles – Diagonale and zone expérimentale – and two specialised Master’s programmes in the performance of contemporary music and free improvisation. Chamber music is an essential part of the core curricula of the Academy’s undergraduate and graduate degree programmes, and is the subject of the Graduate Course for String Quartets (Walter Levin Chair), an advanced training programme aimed at highly experienced professional ensemble musicians. Students are also able to hone their ensemble playing skills with the Chamber Academy Basel orchestra, which plays without a conductor.