EN – Esther Sévérac was born in Geneva Switzerland and studied classical harp at the Hochschule für Musik Basel with renowned harpist Prof. Sarah O’Brien. Fascinated by the possibilites of improvisation and jazz harp, she soon took her instrument to the Jazz Campus Basel where she would study with renowned jazz masters while simultaneously continuing her classical education. She lives in Basel and is mainly active in the field of improvised music, where she is one of Switzerland’s most demanded harpists. Her solo debut album with her own compositions for harp and electronics will be out in september 2023. She teaches a big harp class with students of all ages in Basel in her own harp studio. Since 2022, she is teaching harp didactics at the Hochschule für Musik Basel. She sees the value of a good internet and social media presence, that she built on Youtube, Instagram and Tik Tok. Prior to her academic career as a harp student Esther earned a bachelor’s degree in multilingual communication from the University of Geneva.
EN – Esther Sévérac was born in Geneva Switzerland and studied classical harp at the Hochschule für Musik Basel with renowned harpist Prof. Sarah O’Brien. Fascinated by the possibilites of improvisation and jazz harp, she soon took her instrument to the Jazz Campus Basel where she would study with renowned jazz masters while simultaneously continuing her classical education. She lives in Basel and is mainly active in the field of improvised music, where she is one of Switzerland’s most demanded harpists. Her solo debut album with her own compositions for harp and electronics will be out in 2023. She teaches a big harp class with students of all ages in Basel in her own harp studio. Since 2022, she is teaching harp didactics at the Hochschule für Musik Basel. She sees the value of a good internet and social media presence, that she built on Youtube, Instagram and Tik Tok. Prior to her academic career as a harp student Esther earned a bachelor’s degree in multilingual communication from the University of Geneva.
EN – Esther Sévérac was born in Geneva Switzerland and studied classical harp at the Hochschule für Musik Basel with renowned harpist Prof. Sarah O’Brien. Fascinated by the possibilites of improvisation and jazz harp, she soon took her instrument to the Jazz Campus Basel where she would study with renowned jazz masters while simultaneously continuing her classical education. She lives in Basel and is mainly active in the field of improvised music, where she is one of Switzerland’s most demanded harpists. Her solo debut album with her own compositions for harp and electronics will be out in 2023. She teaches a big harp class with students of all ages in Basel in her own harp studio. Since 2022, she is teaching harp didactics at the Hochschule für Musik Basel. She sees the value of a good internet and social media presence, that she built on Youtube, Instagram and Tik Tok. Prior to her academic career as a harp student Esther earned a bachelor’s degree in multilingual communication from the University of Geneva.
Selected past venues
Suoni Mobili Festival, Milano, IT
Jazz Festival Burghausen, DE
Agora Festival Basel, CH
Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Basel, CH
AMR Genève, CH
KKL Luzern, CH
Merian Gärten, Basel, CH
Harp Festival Bissone, CH
Offbeat Festival Basel, CH
Moods Zurich, CH
Victoria Hall Geneva, CH
Boui Boui Festival Bern, CH
Bird’s Eye Basel, CH
Moods Zurich, CH
Musical Theater Basel, CH
Stadtcasino Basel, CH
Theater Basel, CH
BFM Genève, CH
Rössli Bern, CH
Tonhalle Zurich, CH
Casino Bern, CH
Uncool Festival Poschiavo, CH
CHUV Lausanne, CH
Salle Equilibre Fribourg, CH
TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, NL
Jazzclub Singen, DE
Musikfestwoche Meiringen, CH
Prizes & residencies
World Harp Competition Utrecht – semifinalist (2026)
Composer residency « Uncool » Poschiavo (CH) with Niko Seibold (2023)
Concerto competition Musikhochschule Basel – Winner (2015 & 2017)
Reinl international Harp competition – finalist (2012)
International Masterclass « Harpmasters » Stipend (2008 & 2009)
Swiss Youth Music Competition (Schwieizer Jugendmusikwettbewerb) – Winner (2008)
Discography as a sidewoman:
Education
2015 – 2017 Master of Arts in solo harp performance, Musikhochschule Basel
2013 – 2015 Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy, Musikhochschule Basel
2010 – 2013 Bachelor of Arts, Musikhochschule Basel
2008 – 2010 Precollege Class, Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève
Teachers & coaches
Sarah O’Brien, Park Stickney, Skaila Kanga, Milda Agazarian, Xavier De Maistre, Isabelle Moretti, Ursula Holliger, Guillermo Klein, Lester Menezes, Roberto Koch, Geneviève Chevallier, Catherine Eisenhoffer, etc.
Music videos & performances
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Esther won’t e-mail often (but when she does it’s probably about new releases!)