Symposium in German language

Following the successful first Swiss VDT Symposium (December 11, 2025), the date has now been set for the follow-up event under the same title: “What Kind of Sound Engineer Does the Market Need?” On October 21, 2026, career starters, students, and trainees will once again come together with industry professionals to discuss the future of sound engineering professions. The first event, organized by the VDT Regional Group Switzerland, clearly demonstrated that the job requirements for today’s audio professionals have changed significantly. The demand is increasingly for well-trained all-rounders with solid knowledge of IT and network technology, rather than for professionals with a more traditional sound engineering profile. At the same time, analytical listening skills and musical leadership competencies remain essential. This year’s symposium will focus on careers in private studios, event technology, and sound design in industry. In addition, training opportunities and degree programs related to the audio profession will be presented.

Goals of the event

• To provide career starters, students, and trainees approaching graduation with sound guidance for their future career paths.
• To contribute ideas for the structure and content of degree and training programs, helping to ensure the future availability of qualified professionals.

Organization

The event is organized by the heads of the VDT Regional Group Switzerland, Johannes Widmer (Chair) and Wolfgang Müller (Vice Chair), who will also moderate the symposium. The hosts at ZHdK are Prof. Andreas Werner and Andreas Brüll (Sound Engineering Specialization, Management Team). The event is organized in cooperation with the VDT's Education and Training and Young Talent departments.

Speakers

• Michael Dünki (Stagelight) – Live Sound / Event Services
• Veronique Larcher & Sofia Checa (Sennheiser Mobility) – Automotive Audio Design / 3D Audio (AMBEO Audio Solutions)
• Jacques Kiefer (Magnetix) – Sound Design for Film Production
• Marc Straehl (SLG Broadcast) – Systems Integration / Installation

Round Table

At the heart of the symposium is a round-table discussion featuring industry representatives with hiring responsibility from the following fields:

• Private studios
• Event technology / Live sound
• Sound design in industry
• Education and degree programs

This selection is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, the symposium in Zurich is planned as the first in a series of future events covering additional professional fields.

Schedule

The round-table participants will first provide a brief overview of their companies' fields of activity and the qualifications they expect from future employees. This will be followed by a moderated discussion with questions from the audience. The program will be complemented by a guided tour of the ZHdK studios. Refreshments will be available at the ZHdK cafeteria. Afterwards, participants are invited to join a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. Please indicate during registration whether you would like to participate. Please register by October 12, 2026.

With warm regards,

Johannes Widmer and Wolfgang Müller