Secretary General of the Geneva International Music Competition
President of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC)

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. Having held the position of Vice President of the World Federation of International Music Competitions since 2006, he was elected President in 2015 and re-elected in 2018.

He was born in Geneva in 1962 to a family of musicians. Initially studying classical literature, he then 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, including Member of the Board of Geneva University of Music, President of the Archipel Festival (different types of modern music), member of the Ensemble Contrechamps Committee (contemporary music) and President of the Department of Fine Art, Music and Literature of the National Institute of Geneva. 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 cultural movements.

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