I see music through the lens of a pianist, an audience member, a mother, a mentor, a publisher, and a festival organiser. I established a music career that emphasises inclusivity. My musical activity has spanned across Europe and as far as Russia and the Arabian Peninsula.
Katharina credits her first piano teacher with opening her ears to Eastern music and the works of female composers. This early inspiration led to her lifelong determination to champion other composers, culminating in the founding of the Swiss Female Composers Festival—a platform for exchange, networking, and the performance of new compositions.
In 2002, Katharina moved to Switzerland, where she built a family and began a new chapter in her life. Although her years of traveling slowed down, another exciting and unpredictable journey began. With her two daughters, family, and cats by her side, she continued to perform across Europe and initiated interdisciplinary art projects for children, combining music and visual arts in live concerts. “I loved giving children the chance to experience classical music firsthand and to create lasting memories—this is beautiful,” she says.
Encouraged by fellow musicians, Katharina’s interest in arrangement and composition blossomed naturally. Since then, she has written numerous orchestral and ensemble works, arrangements, and piano compositions. Her music has been performed in Russia, Turkey, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Albania, and beyond.
In January 2019, Katharina realized a long-held idea by founding the Swiss Female Composers Festival, dedicated to connecting and promoting women composers. The first piano book of living female composers of Switzerland was published in April 2023 by Universal Edition, with a violin and piano edition planned for 2024.
Her Piano Rhapsody “Spices” received the Global Music Award (Silver) in December 2022 for creativity and composition, and her orchestral composition “Rave” for Hackbrett and Orchestra was awarded the Amadeus Composition Award (Silver, Austria, June 2023). The commissioned premiere of Rave took place earlier that year with the Sinfonieorchester Kanton Schwyz, conducted by Urs Bamert and featuring Olga Mischula on Hackbrett and Cymbal.
Her composition “September Tango”, honored with the James Adler Audience Favorite Award (USA, June 2025), captures her signature blend of lyricism and rhythmic vitality.
Reflecting on her artistic path, Katharina says:
"Music has been a constant companion of my life, in various constellations. However much I love music, without enjoying life, I can't enjoy music. Life is the source for the music I make."
Recent Premieres — Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall (New York):
La Lacrima – Orchestral work performed by the New York Chamber Players Orchestra, June 28, 2025
September Tango – Performed by the Lehner Quartet, June 30, 2025
By the Baltic Sea – Upcoming premiere with Orchestra Manhattan, November 25, 2025
Katharina continues to compose, perform, and advocate for contemporary music, creating works that resonate deeply with audiences around the world.
