Laubscher Philippe

Following his education as an electrical engineer, Philippe Laubscher began studying piano and pipe organ at the music conservatory in La Chaux-de-Fonds (class of André Luy), then at the Geneva Conservatory, class of French professor Jean-Jacques Grunenwald, from where he graduated with distinction in 1964 (Premier Prix de virtuosité d’orgue). He further refined his organ performing by attending master classes by  J. Reinberger, M. Schneider, D. Roth, L.F. Tagliavini and M.-Cl. Alain. In 1964 he was appointed principal organist of the grand organ in the French Church of Bern, one of the most important musical venues in the capital city, where he continued to work until 2000. During the same period, he also taught organ at the La Chaux-de-Fonds Conservatory and was also appointed organist of the grand organ in the Music Hall of the same city. Between 1968 and 2000, he also taught organ performing at the conservatory and the Haute Ecole de Musique in Bern.

Besides his concert activity throughout Europe, he is a regular collaborator of the Symphonic Orchestra and the main choral associations in Bern. He is also a “general inspector” of the grand organs of the Kultur-Casino-Bern, the main concert venue in Bern. He had the opportunity to perform as a soloist with numerous world renowned conductors: Ch. Dutoit, E. Inbal, F. Luisi, A. Lombard, Y. Menuhin, N. Santi, D. Kitajenko, A. Boreyko, etc. In 1984, the music commission of the Canton of Bern presented Philippe Laubscher with a prize in recognition of his achievement. His interest in organology led him to participate, as an expert, in the building of numerous new instruments, such as the organ in the French Church of Bern, as well as the organ in the great concert hall of the new cultural centre in Lucerne (KKL) designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.