Honor Committee
Dr. Guillaume Grisel
Dr. Guillaume Grisel is an attorney-at-law and a partner with the Swiss leading law firm Schellenberg Wittmer. With a Ph.D in law and a Master’s degree from Cambridge University, he advises high net worth individuals (including artistes and entertainers) in relation to their international estate and tax matters, as well as their charitable and philanthropic projects. He is Vice-chairman of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and Chairman of the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Lausanne Chapter. He was co-founder and chairman of a local classical music festival and is a passionate amateur pianist.
Prof. Dr. Aloïs Koch
Prof. Dr. Aloïs Koch, Conductor, Organist, Professor and former Rector of the Lucerne Musik Hochschule, dedicates himself to sacred music in both history and practice, as well as Swiss musical composition. He has made research findings accessible to the public, education, and practice. Music director at the Berliner Cathedral and at the Jesuit Church in Lucerne.
Prof. Dr. Laurenz Lütteken
Prof. Dr. Laurenz Lütteken, Director of the Institute of Musicology at the University of Zurich. Member of numerous committees and several academies, widely acclaimed for his scholarly work. Author of books on Mozart and Strauss, among others, and editor of the music encyclopedia MGG Online. He has served as President of the Music Commission of the City of Zurich for many years, as well as organizer and editor of the Zurich Festival Symposia. He is President of the Lyra Foundation, Zurich, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hindemith Foundation, Blonay, among others.
Dr. Eleonore Mathier
Dr. Eleonore Mathier, Vice President of the Lyra Foundation. This organization was established in 1995 in Zurich by the Private Banker Dr. Hans Vontobel with a focus on supporting outstanding musicians. It has awarded prizes to significant musicians in the international music scene, such as Yulianna Avdeeva, Lea Sobbe, Sebastian Bohren, and many others.
Martin Naville
Martin Naville, Master of Law, started his career as a corporate banker at JP Morgan in Zurich and New York before joining the Boston Consulting Group as Partner and Director. He then led the Swiss- American Chamber of Commerce, the largest lobby group for international companies in Switzerland, for 20 years. He serves as the Chairman of Zoo Zurich and is involved with Morgan Stanley, Zurich Airport, ETH Zurich and IMD Lausanne.
Bernardino Regazzoni
Bernardino Regazzoni, a doctor of philosophy, joined the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 1988 and pursued his career in Abidjan, Kinshasa, Berne, and, as an Ambassador, in Colombo, Jakarta, Rome, Paris and Beijing.
Dr. Markus Seiler
Dr. Markus Seiler is the Secretary General of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. He holds a PhD in international relations from the University of St Gallen. He entered the civil service in 1997 as adviser to then Federal Councillor Kaspar Villiger, Minister of Finance. In 2002, he transferred to the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). From 2005 to 2010, Markus Seiler held the post of DDPS secretary general before being appointed as first head of the Federal Intelligence Service, a post he held from 2010 until 2017. On December 1, 2017, he was appointed Secretary General of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.
Marco Solari
Marco Solari, graduated in social science University of Geneva. Former director and president of Ticino Turismo. Former delegate of the Swiss government for the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. Honorary president of the Locarno Film Festival (President of the Locarno Film Festival from 2000 to 2023, since then Honorary president).
Ralf Weikert
M° Ralf Weikert, for many years director of the Richard Wagner Festival in Wels, and guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Arena di Verona, at the San Francisco Opera, at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, and many other venues in Europe, America, and Japan, has served as the General Music Director at the Frankfurt Opera and the Zurich Opera House.