Katharina Nohl is a composer, pianist, mentor, and cultural advocate whose music reflects a rich blend of Western and non-Western influences. Her compositions are known for their color, creativity, and distinctive voice—drawing from her experiences as a performer, publisher, mother, and festival organizer.
In June 2023, her composition Rave for Hackbrett and orchestra received the Amadeus Composition Award Austria (Silver). Just a few months earlier, in April 2023, the work had its premiere with the Sinfonieorchester Kanton Schwyz under conductor Urs Bamert, featuring soloist Olga Mischula on Hackbrett/Cymbal. Katharina’s innovative writing for this rare instrumental combination was widely praised.
Another highlight came in December 2022, when her piano rhapsody Spices was honored with a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards for creativity and composition.
Katharina’s career has long emphasized inclusivity and cross-cultural dialogue. Since relocating to Switzerland in 2002, she has performed widely across Europe, Russia, Turkey, and the Arabian Peninsula. Her artistic journey has included work as a pianist and educator, as well as the development of interdisciplinary art projects for children that combine live classical music with visual arts. These projects, deeply personal to her, were designed to create lasting musical memories for young audiences.
Her path into composition evolved naturally, encouraged by fellow musicians and composers. Over time, she developed a diverse portfolio that includes orchestral works, chamber music, solo piano works, and numerous arrangements. Her compositions have been performed in countries such as Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey, and Albania.
A strong advocate for women in music, Katharina founded the Swiss Female Composers Festival in 2019 to provide a platform for networking, collaboration, and performance. This initiative led to the publication of the first piano anthology of living Swiss female composers, released by Universal Edition in April 2023. A second volume—featuring music for violin and piano—is planned for 2024.
Katharina credits her very first piano teacher for awakening her interest in Eastern music and introducing her to female composers. This early influence shaped her lifelong commitment to championing underrepresented voices in the classical music world.
Reflecting on her journey, she 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."