Lucerne's place on the cultural map of Europe is assured by more than its new culture centre and prestigious annual music festival. It also now has what is regarded as one of Switzerland's leading academies for young musicians.

Lucerne's place on the cultural map of Europe is assured by more than its new culture centre and prestigious annual music festival. It also now has what is regarded as one of Switzerland's leading academies for young musicians.

The academy is the result of the amalgamation of three older establishments - two for teaching church and school music, the third the city's conservatory. "It confirms Lucerne's rôle as a musical city, "said the Lucerne education and culture minister, Ulrich Fässler at the official opening ceremony.

"We are primarily a regional academy for central Switzerland," says its director, Thüring Bräm, "because we want to build talent in this region. But we also have about 60 students from 24 countries."

Nearly 500 students attend the academy, which in August and September organises master classes during the international festival of music. This year, classes will be given by the violinist Isaac Stern, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday, and by the pianist Andras Schiff.

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