Secretary General of the Concours de Genève – International Music Competition. President of the Geneva University of Music (HEM Genève).

A musician and arts manager, Didier Schnorhk has been Secretary General of the Geneva International Music Competition and responsible for its artistic, administrative and financial management since 1999. From 2015 to 2021 he served as President of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC).

He was born in Geneva in 1962 to a family of musicians. Initially studying both classical literature and music, he trained as a cellist at the Conservatory of Geneva. For 15 years he worked as a freelance musician, playing in various groups and orchestras in the region, such as the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Geneva Chamber Orchestra and Lausanne Sinfonietta. In 1995, he decided to move into artistic management and became Assistant to the Conductor Thierry Fischer, with whom he had founded the Geneva Chamber Orchestra in 1992.

Passionate about transferring knowledge and mediation, he has written a variety of texts for the programmes of evening concerts he has organised; in addition, he often gives public conferences to present the works. He is a regular contributor to radio programmes at Swiss National Broadcasting RTS and professional workshops at Geneva’s University of Music. He has worked as a consultant in the creation of a new international music competition in Singapore.

His commitment to Geneva’s musical and cultural community and his interest in contemporary creativity have led to some important roles with modern music festivals and ensembles, up to his current position as President of the Geneva University of Music (HEM Genève). He is also involved in politics and has chaired the cultural commission of the Geneva Socialist Party as well as being active within several associative movements.

Didier Schnorhk has been awarded the “Pierre & Louisa Meylan Foundation” Prize in 2019, for his work and commitment in the Geneva International Music Competition.