Swiss Global Artistic Foundation

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Sometimes, predictions do indeed come true (how comforting!) and when we forecast at the beginning of the year that it would probably turn out to be the most active and productive in our history, this has proved to be the case. In addition to a memorable series of high standard events and the continuing discovery and promotion of young international artists of exceptional talent, the Foundation itself, as it approaches its seventh year of activity, has also taken some significant steps so as better to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.

The first is evident from our letterhead. The new designation of Swiss Global Artistic Foundation has been adopted and registered now both as a UK and Swiss charity in order to reflect the widening international reach and scope of our activities (while retaining of course our Swiss operating base and connection). At the same time, we have entirely updated our website, which now offers a much more rapid overview of developments, and especially of the growing number of forthcoming events. The website also has a new name: www.swissglobal.org.

Our internal organization has been strengthened with the arrival of Nadia Sikorsky, who has joined the team as Development Executive. Based in Geneva, Nadia, who has held a number of executive positions with major international organizations and charitable foundations, will mainly concentrate on expanding the scope of our Foundation, to include sponsorships and funding for our operations as well as overseeing the new website.

We have also appointed Susi Kennedy, who will be responsible for the Secretariat in London. She will oversee our growing number of operations and widening circle of Friends of the Foundation based in the United Kingdom, while Sabine-Helene Green will continue to handle the same task in Switzerland and France.

While recording with great sadness the recent deaths of our patrons Sir Peter and Lady Smithers, we are delighted to welcome Jay Gottlieb as a new member of our Advisory Board. A distinguished American pianist and musicologist of international renown, based in Paris, Jay has enlivened our recent Jours des Arts events with his artistry, deep musical knowledge and engaging personality. His depth of experience, contacts and creative ideas will be of immense value to the future activities of the Foundation.

Another source of satisfaction to the Foundation is the continuing growth of the circle of outstanding young international artists we have helped to mature both in master classes and live performances. A gratifying case in point is the young Lausanne-born cellist, Marie-Stéphanie Janecek, who has performed at a number of our events in Switzerland and internationally in past seasons. Marie-Stéphanie has now been chosen to perform the testing Dvořák cello concerto as soloist with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, in Indiana, U.S.A. The concert, with the orchestra under the baton of the Foundation's Musical Director Geoffrey Simon, takes place in Bloomington on December 1st and will, we are sure, prove another milestone in the development of Marie-Stéphanie's career and artistic reputation.

We had, as many of you who attended will recall, a full programme of events in the first half of this year, and this will continue for the remainder of the season and on into 2007.

The Foundation was delighted to be invited to the recent celebrations in York Minster for the 90th birthday of our patron, Sir Jack Lyons, who has so generously supported the outstanding music faculty of the University of York over the years. We have now established a very close relationship with York, and will stage another event there next June. We have also been invited to represent the Foundation by attending the London Symphony Orchestra's own birthday concert tribute to their benefactor Sir Jack in London later this month.

The third edition of our annual four-day Jours des Arts once again took place in the idyllic autumnal setting of the Château de Montcaud, near Avignon, France, at the beginning of October. The theme this year was "Impressionism" and the event revealed a fascinating blend of musicality, art, and gastronomy for the international and local participants who had the privilege of attending. Musicians appearing included pianists Jay Gottlieb and Antoine Rebstein, flautist Clément Dufour and pianist Vanya Cohen, and baritone Thomas Weinhappel accompanied by Stephen Delaney.

There were compelling lectures by musicologist David Butler Cannata of Temple University, U.S.A, Tim Hunter, Director of Christie's, London, and member of our Advisory Board, Sylvain Amic, Curator of the Fabre Museum, Montpellier, and Michael Green, our Public Relations Advisor. As always the whole event proved to be the usual highly convivial gathering of kindred spirits.

With the renewed generous sponsorship of the Investec Trust, the recent cocktail and musical soirée held in the sumptuous setting of the Parc des Eaux-Vives, Geneva, on a delightful autumnal evening, was another highlight of the current season. The eclectic and energetic artistic programme included jazz from the Wings on Earth Quartet, dancers Kathryn Bradney and Igor Piovano of the Compagnie Igokat, singers Elizabeth Bailey, soprano and David-Alexandre Borloz, baritone, and the young Aiglon Drum Trio, from Aiglon College, Villars, making their first public appearance with professional aplomb. A soirée to remember.

Our friends at Investec Trust are again lending their support to a forthcoming event in London on December 4th, to be held at the Merchant Taylors Hall in the City of London. This will feature a programme of Christmas music, performed by the renowned chamber choir, Tenebrae. Should you wish to attend this concert and to be put on our guest list, please contact Susi Kennedy.

On December 9th, we make a welcome return to "The Golden Hill" of Lugano and to the lovely Villa Principe Leopoldo, for a Christmas Soirée and concert. Those who have attended our previous events in this privileged location will once again want to make the outing to Switzerland's sunny corner. Not to be missed. Should you wish to attend this event, please contact Sabine-Helene Green.

The 2007 calendar of events is building fast, with eight already programmed and certainly others to be added. We will start the New Year in style in Switzerland with a Members' Soirée, at a convenient location to be communicated soon, and the full list of subsequent international events will follow.

Suffice it to say at this stage, we are already excited by the prospect of what will certainly be the most ambitious and varied programme the Foundation has so far undertaken and, as always, in settings of charm and special interest. Full details, confirmed programmes and dates will be sent to you in due course and will naturally be regularly updated on the new website.

Onwards and upwards is the ever dominant keynote!

Your continuing financial and personal support and valued counsel have been and continue to be an immense help in the development and growth of our Foundation. Thank you. And please continue to bring to our notice any of your acquaintances who would like to join our Friends or attend an event. We really look forward to the pleasure of your company--and theirs--soon. By returning the enclosed form, you will help us to better evaluate the current position of the Foundation and thus to better attune our offer to you.

With my warmest regards and seasonal greetings,

Heather de Haes

Founder and Director