In the “Weg vo …” series, we introduce people in no particular order who lived in the hallowil.ch region and left it for a variety of reasons. They tell us what they miss about the new place – and what they like better there. Today: Marie-Hélène Froidevaux left Wil 17 years ago and stopped at a few stations before she – for the time being – settled in St. Moritz.
Feb 27, 2022 3:33 am
Janine Meyer
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In love with the mountains and music: Marie-Hélène Froidevaux from Wil lives where others go on (ski) holidays, namely in St. Moritz.
Photos: zVg // Marie-Hélène Froidevaux
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Five questions to Marie-Hélène Froidevaux:
Why did you move away from Wil?
After my training as a hairdresser in St. Gallen, I started studying “Bachelor of Science in Tourism” in Chur. I was in my early twenties then. It was time for some fresh air. I’ve always liked the mountains. With the family we almost always went on vacation in the mountains. Only: Which child likes hiking … But winter sports were my thing and in summer biking. It always pulled me up. So Chur was a good place for me. After my studies, I worked for the Rhaetsche Bahn and that’s how I came to the Upper Engadine. I fell in love with the high valley and its inhabitants on the spot. But it wasn’t “Bergzeit” for me yet.
At 26 I moved to New York. I love the culture and music scene. I spent the next five years mostly in the USA and built up my music agency. In 2016 I founded the music publishing house Interstellar Music and came back to Switzerland. I also worked for the SRF. This work, in turn, brought me to the Festival da Jazz – St. Moritz. In 2018 I returned to the high valley. It was a homecoming ten years after falling in love. I can now run my music publishing company from here. In addition to publishing work and music advice, I run the Club art piece. We organize events, present local artists and publish the culture magazine High Valley Low. I love every day here.
What do you miss about St. Moritz that was completely normal in Wil?
I loved the pond, the skate park and the coach house. We had the best times in Wil. In the afternoon skating, hackisack, frisbee on the pond, in the evening live concerts and parties with DJ Vitamin S. in the coach house. Oh, and darts in the post office, of course. The Country Cuts at Art’s… Legendary. We had a great youth!
In St. Moritz and the Engadin there is a good creative scene that is making room for itself. But there isn’t (yet) a club like Remise back then. Who knows. Maybe soon.
What do you appreciate about St. Moritz that didn’t exist in Wil or wasn’t possible?
The mountains. I love them, I love the height, the air, the light, the pines, the lakes and the peace and quiet in the Engadin. I can snowboard or mountain bike at lunchtime and go on big tours at the weekend without having to travel long distances. Everything is on the doorstep.
Are you planning to return to Wil or the region?
No. I’m only in contact with a few of my friends at the time. They now live scattered all over the world. My family no longer lives there either.
Why don’t you want to return?
I have great memories of my youth in Wil. We had lots of fun. But my heart is in the mountains. I’m probably getting old up here.
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Characteristics
Vorname, Name: Marie-Helene Froidevaux
Alter: 37
Where have you lived? Hofackerstrasse, Wil
By when? 1993 – 2006
Where do you live now? St. Moritz
Since when? Since 2019
Before: 2006 – 2009 in Chur
2009 – 2010 in Davos and Sargans
2010 Zürich
2011 – 2015 New York / St. Gallen
2015 – 2019 Winterthur
Who’s next?
Are there people who hallowil.ch necessarily portray? Then introduce us to each other! You can reach us by email or via our social media channels Facebook and Instagram.
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