Politician pours millions into music school
A former cabinet minister has put up SFr20 million ($18 million) for a project to turn a former monastery into a music school.
Christoph Blocher, a millionaire businessman and leading light of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, intends to set up a foundation to manage the funds and run the school, which will be located on the grounds of a disused Benedictine monastery on Rheinau island in canton Zurich.
The cantonal authorities are currently renovating the former monastery and gave their backing to the creation of Blocher’s foundation. The foundation aims to create a national centre for the promotion of music in young people and adults.
The Swiss music scene is greatly in need of a centre for teaching, rehearsals and holding competitions, Blocher said on Monday.
The project has the support of the major Swiss music associations.
The school is expected to open in 2013 and is due to include a restaurant and sleeping accommodation.
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