As a conductor, Ludwig Wicki pursues many different genres and styles. As the Music Director of the Hofkirche in Lucerne, he cultivated sacred repertoire ranging from Gregorian chant to contemporary music with an emphasis on classical music, particularly Haydn, J.S. Bach, and the masters of the Renaissance such as Palestrina, Monteverdi, and Schütz. Moreover, he has conducted concerts of late Romantic and Impressionist works, the Viennese classics and chamber ensemble performances featuring Stravinsky, Schönberg and contemporary works.

In 1999, Wicki founded the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, which dedicates itself primarily to the performance of film music. The symphony’s seasons feature more than ten film music projects annually and include collaborations with renowned film music composers such as Howard Shore, Randy Newman, James Horner, Martin Böttcher, George Fenton and Michel Giacchino.

In 2008, Ludwig Wicki conducted the world premiere of The Fellowship of the Ring at the KKL Luzern with the 21st Century Orchestra & Chorus. Since then he has conducted the piece in Munich, Washington D.C., Lyon, Sydney, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, and with his 21st Century Symphony Orchestra at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The world premieres of The Two Towers and The Return of the King followed in 2009 and 2010, as well as the 2011 world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and the 2012 world premiere of the live performance of Fantasia. Wicki has also conducted world premieres of Amadeus, Titanic and The English Patient at the Royal Albert Hall, and continues to work with orchestras worldwide on a wide range of film concerts.

Wicki serves as professor of chamber music and conducting at universities in Lucerne and Bern. In 2007, he was awarded the Recognition Award of the City of Lucerne.