Elisabeth Harnik

Pianist and composer ELISABETH HARNIK has created a multi-faceted body of work by blurring genre boundaries through various collaborations in the field of improvised music, interdisciplinary projects and contemporary compositional works. She studied classical piano and later - with Beat Furrer – composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz. She writes commissioned works and her compositions are performed regularly at concerts and festivals for new music. In addition to her work as composer she appears as pianist at concerts and festivals for improvised music in Europe and abroad. As an improviser she works within an electro-acoustic inspired sound-world, using specific preparations and extended techniques while pushing the limitations of the piano. Her performances draw from physicality and introspection, intuitive playing and high precision. Harnik´s unique approach to her instrument as well as to improvisation and composition has led to many concert invitations. Besides her solo performances she is member of numerous ensembles for improvised music and has performed and recorded with a number of internationally recognised representatives of the contemporary jazz scene such as Johannes Bauer, Thomas Lehn, Joëlle Léandre, Mikołaj Trzaska, Alison Blunt, Steve Swell, Fay Victor, Michael Zerang, Dave Rempis, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Ken Vandermark, Tim Daisy, Andrea Centazzo a.o.