Based in Vienna, Sophie Hassfurther has made a name for herself as a versatile instrumentalist on the saxophone, flute, and clarinet, as well as a performer and composer for ensembles in various musical contexts.
In her own projects, she explores the boundaries between composed material and improvisation. Her work, praised by the international press for its power, authenticity and interplay, has been called an “intense and different experience” (London Jazz News). She performs at international festivals such as North Sea Jazz, Saalfelden Jazz, Outreach Jazz Festival Schwaz/Tyrol, live at “Treffpunkt Kultur” (ORF), Salzburger Festspiele, Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele. Her composition Da-Sein was premiered at Wien Modern 2022.
Growing up near Salzburg/Austria, her studies have led her to Amsterdam, Vienna and New York. She uses her skills as a reeds player in various musicals, as an orchestra member for stage music, and as a sidewoman in different stylistic contexts. Career highlights include domestic and international concerts with Peter Herbert, Marianne Mendt, mathias rüegg, Gerry Hemingway, Wolter Wierbos, Sean Bergin and Simon Nabatov.
As a composer, she received several grants from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, the Arts and Culture as well as from the City of Vienna. She created pieces for her own projects, including a composition for large ensemble. She has written music for theater, and is frequently asked to contribute compositions to the repertoire of bands she performs in.
Sophie teaches saxophone, flute and clarinet at Klangwerk Wien.