for children and young people
Empyrean Academy
The Empyrean Orchestra is committed not only to musical excellence on stage but also to nurturing the next generation. With the founding of the Empyrean Academy for Children, the orchestra offers a vibrant platform where children of every age can explore and discover music, make music together in an ensemble and gain their first experiences of conducting.
Our ensemble warmly welcomes children with and without instrumental experience. For those who have no musical background yet, we offer a personal conversation and assessment, along with a playful and caring introduction to the world of music, with simple fundamentals and, if desired, the chance to try out an instrument for the first time. If you or your parents have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
The Academy takes place once a week over the course of a semester and is led by me, violinist and conductor Kevin Griffiths, together with musicians of the Empyrean Orchestra. Through this initiative, the Empyrean Orchestra combines artistic endeavour with the sustained nurturing of young talent — making an active contribution to long-term cultural development.
Conducting is fun for children and, at the same time, strengthens their confidence, communication skills and sense of responsibility. Within the ensemble they experience working together rather than against one another, learn to listen to each other — and discover how music brings people together.
We show, in a playful yet educational way, what music can mean and the effect it can have. The children discover instruments, rhythms and sounds and immerse themselves in a free, spontaneous process of development.
Anyone who would like to delve deeper into the world of conducting has the opportunity, if interested, to take part in individual lessons offered from time to time, as preparation for more advanced ensemble sessions.
Lessons & Venue
- Weekly lessons
- Thursdays, 6.45–7.45 p.m.
- Venue
- Yen Han Ballet Productions (Entrance A, 2nd floor)
Freihofstrasse 20
8700 Küsnacht
About Kevin Griffiths
The London-born Swiss conductor Kevin Griffiths belongs to the third generation of conductors in his family.
Kevin has always been deeply committed to education projects and to supporting children and young artists. He strives to give them a platform to perform, and over the years has conducted and personally hosted many children's concerts, including with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and the Sinfonieorchester Basel.
His father, Howard Griffiths, was already renowned for his Teddy Bear and Kiko concert series and, almost 40 years ago, founded the Jugend Sinfonieorchester Zürich — it seems Kevin has inherited this same passion.
With the «Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich», Kevin conducted an orchestra of 300 children at the Tonhalle Zürich.