Does anyone have any information on the pay scale, work conditions, quality of living in Switzerland?

Also, if anyone has auditioned in that country and has information on their procedures etc., I would be interested to know.

Hi RDC: You might contact Randy Max, he's timpanist with an Orchestra in Belgium, prior to that he was in Rotterdam. He's been in Europe well over 10 years and may have some insight. You could also try the Grand Daddy of ex-pats, David Scearcy; timpanist at La Scala for decades.

Frosty the Freelancer

Switzerland has generally a very high standard of life. It's also rumored to be one of the most expensive countries in the world - but luckily the musicians' salaries are generally good.

Different from the rest of Western Europe, Switzerland is based on private health care and does not have all the public social benefits of its neighbouring countries.

Also remember that Swiss keeps its old Swiss Franc currency, it does not use the Euro.

Switzerland has lots of good orchestras, notably Tonhalle Zurich, Zurich Opera, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Suisse Romande in Geneva and Swiss-Italian Radio Orchestra in Lugano. Don't know much about other orchestras, but there are also in Luzern (at least they have a fantastic concert hall!!), Biel, Bern etc.

Hope this helps a little bit.

Thank you, Euro. That is helpful information.