Going Beyond
Music Education
Aiglon has always embraced music as essential to a holistic education, nurturing mind, body, and spirit. John Corlette's vision laid the foundation.
In the early days of Aiglon College, student trips to local performances sparked lifelong passions. This dedication was evident in 1964, when precious boarding space was transformed into the first music classroom and practice facility to enable the introduction of formal music training for O Levels.
Today, with over half of our students engaged in private tuition, and offering IGCSE and IB courses, music remains at the heart of daily life at Aiglon. In today's rapidly changing world, music education is more important than ever, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, essential skills for navigating a complex future.
We are delighted that music is a key part of Aiglon today, and will continue to be an important part of an Aiglon education for generations to come.
Nicola Sparrow
School Director
Creativity and music-education fosters confidence, discovery and self-belief. These are foundational pillars for developing rounded, compassionate and curious global citizens, and we are committed to placing this at the heart of an Aiglon education.
As we celebrated our 75th anniversary and completed the largest capital project in our history in 2025, we reflected on our heritage to guide our path. Now, with those milestones behind us, we continue to look to the future with renewed ambition—powered by the generosity of our wider community, whose time, talent, and treasure push the boundaries of what we can achieve.
The Power of Music
Engaging Mind, Body & Spirit
The essence of an Aiglon education is about developing character, confidence, knowledge, and kindness. These values are at the very heart of Aiglon's ethos, and music nurtures each of these four elements.
19
IGCSE
Music Students
11
IB Music Students
( World Avg. = 1 )
50%
of IB Music Students achieved a perfect 7
+300
Private Music Lessons per week
+150% from 2021
At a time where music education faces global decline, Aiglon stands out by deeply integrating music into its students' lives from an early age. In the Junior School, every student learns an orchestral instrument, building foundational musical literacy. In the Senior School, while music becomes optional academically, Aiglon's commitment remains strong through a diverse extra-curricular programme. This caters to all interests, from classical to rock, and encourages participation in concerts and campus events.
Aiglon blends tradition with innovation, offering classical training alongside modern technology like a state-of-the-art recording studio and partnering with U.S. Grammy-nominated music producer Maejor’s Frequency School. This broadens horizons, equipping students with the skills relevant to meet the challenges of today and into the future.
Beyond formal programmes, school-wide singing events such as “Singing Meditations”, “The Gathering” and “House Shout” foster a deep musical culture. These communal experiences are vital in today's world, promoting togetherness, belonging, and well-being. Singing together builds confidence, releases endorphins, and strengthens community bonds, contributing to every student's emotional resilience. Through this comprehensive approach, Aiglon not only educates musicians but also nurtures well-rounded individuals who appreciate music's enduring power and beauty.
Protect & PerfecT
The Challenge
Our music programme has successfully grown in impact and influence. To protect what we are doing well and perfect it for the needs of the students, now and into the future, we require a physical space that matches our current scale and allows for growth.
Protect Aiglon's Exceptional Programme
This organic growth is a testament to the passion and dedication of our students and faculty, demonstrating the profound impact our music programme already has. However, this success has also brought significant challenges. Our current classroom and practice spaces are bursting at the seams. With over half of our students now engaged in private lessons each week, alongside the flourishing Junior and Senior orchestras, various choral ensembles, string quartets, a big band, chamber choir, rock bands, and several other ensembles, the physical limitations are undeniable. The corridors of the current music department are used to store instruments, and students often find themselves competing for precious practice space and time. The time has come for our physical infrastructure to reflect the ambition and achievement of our music programme.
Perfect our Programme with Intentional Care
As a not-for-profit school deeply committed to providing an exceptional educational experience, we must make a significant and strategic investment in a purpose-built facility for our music programme. Our ambition knows no bounds when it comes to the quality and breadth of our programming, aiming consistently for the highest standards in musical education and performance. This same high aspiration must, therefore, be mirrored in our unwavering dedication to developing and enhancing our physical facilities to match the excellence of our artistic vision.
Going Beyond
The Solution
As a not-for-profit school, we need to invest in a purpose-built music facility to match our high aspirations for musical education and performance.
Recital Hall
Aiglon's music department is a special environment that fosters both inclusivity and exceptional talent. We plan to construct a dedicated, state-of-the-art music facility designed to cultivate talent, attract leading faculty and visiting musicians, and enhance our school's reputation. This new facility will feature a 100-seat performance space with pristine acoustics, capable of hosting acclaimed international musicians and providing our students with a top-tier venue for their performances, acoustically optimised practice rooms, dedicated rehearsal spaces, sound-engineered performance venues, and cutting edge recording studios. These crucial additions will ensure a world-class musical experience.
This investment highlights our commitment to the transformative power of music education, allowing for an expanded curriculum, innovative programmes, and exceptional opportunities. It will serve as a foundational element for artistic growth, benefiting all students from developing musicians to future sound engineers.
Ultimately, this project represents more than just a new facility; it's a strategic investment in the future of our students, our institution, and the rich cultural environment we foster. It guarantees that our music programme will continue to flourish and inspire for generations, underscoring the critical importance of music education in shaping well-rounded individuals and vibrant communities in today's world.
This new and dedicated Recital Hall, purpose built and specially designed for music acoustics, will empower students to discover their passion and untapped potential.
The Music Lounge
The open, spacious, and multi-functional lobby will provide much needed independent and group study space, a servery for event hospitality, and a home for our Steinway Model B for both impromptu and organised performances.
Flooded with natural light, this open-plan Lounge will serve as a social hub and central gathering space of the Music Teaching and Practice Facility. Be it during the school day or after class, this stylish lounge will allow students to gather, study independently, or share music with each other. Equally, this elegant but relaxed setting will be the scene of performances and recitals for Aiglon and the wider community. The Music Teaching and Practice Facility Lounge will greatly add to the provision of flexible learning and social space on campus for all students and faculty, as well as for hosting events.
The Practice Facilities
Performing on stage - in front of a live audience - is the culmination of a lot of hard work and discipline. It is Aiglon’s responsibility to make sure our students have the best facilites in which to dedicate themselves to this hard work, and to help ensure they’re ready to take the stage!
When the values of dedication and perseverance, as well as enthusiasm and passion are harnessed for the purpose of musical education, we see truly remarkable results. Aiglon is so proud that its students have played with Lang Lang, Jools Holland, Maejor, the The Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, and others, but these moments did not happen in isolation.
All of these extraordinary moments began, weeks, months and often years before in the practice room. Our students’ musical journeys are built on a foundation of commitment and love for their art, and in turn, it is Aiglon’s responsibility to continue to build an environment that is supportive of this devotion to musical education.
This is why we are giving priority to the development of a world-class suite of rehearsal and learning spaces, including 9 Practice Rooms, a DJ studio, Music Technology Classroom, Practical Music Classroom, and 3 Recording Studios. As is so often the case, it is the effort behind the scenes where the real work is done, and we must provide enough facilities for all our musicians to have ample time and space to practice. The Music Teaching and Practice Facility will remove all physical barriers to our students reaching their musical ambitions.
The Classrooms
The new facility will have nine practice rooms, three recording studios, and of course, teaching space.
I'm blessed with the opportunity to work with several schools and teachers throughout the year. I can say with no doubt that the quality of education at Aiglon is among the finest I've seen in international schools anywhere.
Such quality education is a sign of dedication, commitment, care, and passion. I saw evidence of exceptional music education for students and a warm, positive culture of music embedded throughout the school.
Jim Yarnell
Music Consultant, Global Music Concept
Music is Part of Aiglon’s Landscape
The Music Teaching and Practice Facility is the final part of the Upper Campus Masterplan. To the eastern edge of the Facility is outdoor space, perfect for the Aiglon Amphitheatre and Science Garden.
Spoken word and dramatised performance plays an important role in Aiglon’s programme of creativity. Whilst each young artist has their own muse, there is no doubt our alpine setting serves as inspiration for all our students. This open air performance and gathering space will not just help complete the Upper Campus Masterplan, but reside in the centre of the Music Teaching and Practice Facility, Arts Department and Drama Studio. The Aiglon Amphitheatre will perfectly complete our Creative Arts facilities.
Further leaning into our mountain home, and supporting the academic departments in the John Corlette Building, the Science Garden will help landscape the upper campus. The Science Garden will also serve as a practical space for our young scientists and biologists to study the natural world.
Perfecting our Campus
Framing the Moghadam Campus Hub
Mirroring the architectural concept of the Moghadam Campus Hub and further developing the heart of campus, the Music Teaching and Practice Facility's two wings will flank an outdoor terrace and sculpture installation. The deliberate design brings continuity and helps complete campus cohesion and unity.
Going Beyond Together
Ways to Support
Aiglon is at its most impactful when we collaborate with our community. Partnering with alumni, families and friends of Aiglon has, for over 77 years, driven us forward, and helped us Go Beyond.
Aiglon is a not-for-profit educational institution, governed by a volunteer Association of community members. We are duty-bound to reinvest our operational surplus into the school, and we are truly humbled when Families and Alumni help us do more, faster through philanthropic support. This support has not just ensured Aiglon continues to flourish, but has also meant we remain fiscally responsible and financially resilient.
The Tony Jashanmal Sports Centre, the Moghadam Campus Hub, Chalet Barbey, and countless other campus projects have only been made possible because of the generosity of Aiglon’s global community and of hundreds of donations. Today, we are ready to take the next step in building our world-class campus, enhancing our already brilliant music programming, and allow creativity to take centre stage.
Music is a strategic priority for Aiglon. The hard and soft skills learnt, friendship made, the wellbeing and support offered by the sanctuary created within our music community, and interdisciplinary lessons taught, highlight the true value of the Aiglon Music Teaching and Practice Facility.
Opportunities to support this project exist at many levels:
| Opportunity | Description | Amount | |
| Whole Complex | Naming opportunity for the entire building complex | CHF 5'000'000 | |
| Recital Hall | A world-class 100 seat performance space with perfect acoustics | CHF 1'000'000 | |
| Reserved | Music Lounge | Study, social and event space | CHF 500'000 |
| Reserved | Recording Studio & Hall Control Room | Large recording studio & Recital Hall AV boards | CHF 250'000 |
| Steinway Spirio Model B | An Aiglon first! | CHF 200'000 | |
| Practical Music Classroom | For group musical instruction | CHF 200'000 | |
| Music Tech Classroom | Hands on instruction using digital tools | CHF 150'000 | |
| Reserved | Foyer | Main entrance and cloakroom for the Recital Hall | CHF 100'000 |
| Outdoor Terrace | Open-air event space | CHF 100'000 | |
| Sculpture Installation | Celebration of public art | CHF 100'000 | |
| Organ | An Aiglon first! | CHF 80'000 | |
| Practice Room 1 (DJ Booth) | Private room with the latest DJ equipment | CHF 50'000 | |
| Recording Studio 2 & 3 | Two additional private recording spaces | CHF 50'000 | |
| Practice Rooms (9) | Nine practice spaces for private tuition and rehearsal | CHF 50'000 | |
| Reserved | Ampitheatre | Outdoor meeting and performance space | CHF 30'000 |
| Sound Pod | Private vibroacoustic technology for therapeutic experiences | CHF 30'000 | |
| Reserved | Servery | To provide professional event hospitality | CHF 10'000 |
| Seat in the Recital Hall | Sponsor a seat in the Recital Hall | CHF 5'000 |
If you would like to learn more about ways to support the project, or how to get involved with Aiglon, please contact Karen Sandri, Director of Philanthropy & Community Engagement on philanthropy@aiglon.ch