Participant Testimonials

  • “I have attended several summers of soundSCAPE over the past 5 years. Being a recurrent participant since 2019 has nurtured me through many phases of my musical journey from first attending as an undergraduate student, to most recently participating as a young professional. The scope of learning at soundSCAPE far exceeds the conservatory standard, empowering participants to expand their knowledge in areas including music business, interactive media, and accessibility in the arts. Through the education I have obtained from soundSCAPE over the past 5 years, I have successfully commissioned new works, collaborated with other industry professionals, curated modern concert programs, and received grants for new music projects.”

    — Britton-René Collins, Percussionist (2024)

  • "Having two weeks to hone my craft for new music allowed me to explore and improve in ways I couldn't have imagined. The faculty guided participants on a mutual exploration of where the world of sound can take us. We worked side by side with faculty, performers, composers, and sound recorders allowing for a cross-disciplinary education within a chamber setting. The intimate nature of the program allows for a strong bond to form between group members both in professional work settings and in relaxation. The Swiss countryside is rich with mountain hikes that promise great views, and Lake Geneva begs for you to jump in together at sunrise. The bond that you make at soundSCAPE with faculty and other participants connects you to every corner of the world.”

    — Leah Wenger, Vocalist (2024)

  • "Having never attended a music festival before, I was slightly anxious and didn’t really know what to expect. My time at the soundScape music festival ended up being one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. Meeting so many incredibly talented musicians and being able to collaborate with them - meeting the amazing faculty that through seminars and lessons: all of these things contributed to the phenomenal experience that I had in Switzerland this year. I'm so grateful for the time I’ve spent at this festival and hope that I can make it back to Blonay soon!"

    — Daniel Virgen, Composer (2024)

  • “I would highly recommend soundSCAPE to anyone who is interested in growing their skills and experience in the area of contemporary music. The input of faculty of all instrument specialities offers unique advice for your playing, and they are always open to answering questions. The chamber music is high level and is a great space to learn more about how to collaborate with contemporary musicians. I feel so honoured to have been able to learn from my peers and the faculty at soundSCAPE, I know that what I learned and the relationships I made will continue to impact me for years to come.”

    — Sophie Reimer-Epp, Violinist (2024)

  • “My biggest take away from soundSCAPE is that I learnt how musicians from different parts of the world view art in completely different ways, and it has kept me thinking afterwards. I appreciate the chance provided by the festival to let me communicate with fellow musicians and faculty members, and I'll also miss the amazing nature view on site as well as the delicious festival food provided by the Hindemith Music Center.”

    — Weiyang Ding, Composer (2024)

  • "soundSCAPE is simply an incredible festival. It's amazing how you can make friends, and learn so much because of them, and of course because of the faculty members, they all are amazing people and teachers, is so much fun and the experience is like no other one, is just something you live that will leave a mark inside you. It's just beautiful and amazing!"

    — Gael Castillo Jiménez, Percussionist (2024)

  • “I have been to numerous summer festivals but none felt as inclusive and encouraging of creative freedom and learning than soundSCAPE. The participants and faculty were all very generous with their knowledge and excited to learn and try new things. I had such a great time and will always fondly remember the week I spent in Blonay!”

    — Siobhan Plouffe, Sound Engineer (2024)

  • “I have participated in soundSCAPE for two summers now, and both times, it has been an extremely valuable experience for me. The festival has helped me grow on multiple musical fronts and forge lasting connections with musicians who are equally passionate about new music as I am.”

    — Cameron DeLuca, Clarinetist (2024)

  • “soundSCAPE is not like any other festival I've attended. As a singer, I have participated in several festivals dedicated to vocalists and song, but as a truly interdisciplinary festival, soundSCAPE enabled me to work with instrumentalists, composers, and audio & video technicians in a way that both deepened and broadened my understanding of music beyond my own specialization.The fast-paced nature and challenging, varied repertoire of the festival made me step outside my comfort zone in so many ways, from learning newly composed songs within a matter of days, to trying techniques I didn't know existed before, to experimenting with digital audio workspaces. These experiences give me new confidence as a musician taking on contemporary repertoire. I am also very grateful for the supportive, open-minded and collaborative ethos that was evident among the participants, and very much modeled by the faculty. This is not just a festival for honing technique or padding a resume; this is a place where people who are passionate about new music come together to share ideas, question assumptions, and make exciting things happen.”

    — Claire Latosinsky, Vocalist (2024)

  • “Having participated in a number of different summer music programs in the past, I was pleasantly taken with the uniqueness of soundSCAPE in several different areas of the program. Firstly, I was excited about the program’s emphasis on contemporary art music, but was surprised and pleased with the incredibly wide and diverse array of styles and performance practices within that broader emphasis. The performances expanded on this tremendous diversity, leaving me with the takeaway that even within a strong mission statement like soundSCAPE boasts, that there is a seemingly endless and enviable diversity of people, styles, and genres within their focused intention. Faculty were so forthcoming and insightful throughout the entirety of the program, fostering a high-level environment with a rare spirit of warmth and generosity. I cannot recommend this program, this faculty, and this location enough, with its capacity to build a warm community that not only maintains a strong, intentioned central focus, but embraces a tremendous diversity of artists, styles, faculty, and experiences with care and generosity.”

    — Kyle Adam Blair, Pianist (2024)

  • “soundSCAPE was a wonderful time. I really appreciated the way the faculty and students played together. It created a communal energy. I also thought the recording crew were exceptional, the recordings sound great - probably the best-sounding recording I have of my music!”

    — James Lowrie, Composer (2024)