Est. 2017 – Zurich
More Than Classic
We are united by our love of music – and the joy of connecting with people through it. With experience, curiosity, and personality, we bring our ideas to the stage.
WHO WE ARE
Not just musicians – storytellers.
More Than Classic is a Zurich cultural association. Since 2017 we have been creating our own concerts and musical projects – together with experienced musicians, artists and cultural partners. We develop the ideas behind the programmes and bring them to the stage.
Classical music is our foundation, but our work is not limited to the classical concert. In our crossover concert series it meets rock, pop and film music. Other projects combine live music with art, light and movement. However different our programmes are, musical quality and the joy of trying new things belong together for us.
Music is the language I speak best. With it, I want to touch people, share joy, and open new horizons. I love trying out unexpected ideas – and discovering what can emerge from them. The most beautiful thing is when I feel how this enthusiasm connects the stage and the audience, and together we experience something that will last.
Irina Pak
Co-founder & artistic director
01
Our Mission
We want to inspire people with music and create shared experiences that stay in the memory. We intend to continue our own concert formats in the long term and develop new programmes, giving young musicians the chance to grow alongside experienced artists and bring their ideas to the stage.
02
Our Goals
We bring people together through music and open up new ways to experience art and culture. With artistic skill and the courage to embrace unconventional ideas, we create live experiences that transcend the ordinary. At the heart of it all is what people feel, discover, and share. This is how moments that last are created.
from solo performances to ensembles
Our musicians
More Than Classic features experienced professional musicians with extensive concert and stage experience. Depending on the project, we assemble the appropriate lineup – from solo performances to ensembles.
- ◆Ensembles – from duos and piano trios to string quartets and quintets, up to larger ensembles
- ◆Piano & Keyboard – classical, crossover and project-based
- ◆Drums & Percussion – acoustic and electronic
- ◆Vocals – classical, pop, jazz and crossover
- ◆Electric Instruments – including electric violin and electric cello
- ◆Soloists – depending on the project and musical concept
What unites our musicians is high artistic quality, experience, enjoyment of playing and openness to new ideas.
A selection of the artists and ensembles who regularly collaborate with More Than Classic or have participated in our projects:
Zurich Virtuosi ◆ Duo Beat&Bow ◆ Irina Pak ◆ Coen Strouken ◆ Solme Hong ◆ Ken Kaneda ◆ Kateryna Tereshchenko ◆ Eoin Ducrot ◆ Sherniyaz Mussakhan ◆ Jemma Abrahamyan ◆ Cyprien Semayne ◆ Alessandro D'Amico ◆ Martin Moriarty ◆ Eliza Khanafina ◆ Alfredo Ferre Martinez ◆ Evgenia Murtazaeva ◆ Sandro Meszaros ◆ Susanne Dubach ◆ Pietro Montemagni ◆ Stefan Baumann ◆ Juan Carlos Escobar ◆ Yulia Miloslavskaya ◆ Alex Wilson ◆ Mikhail Mordvinov ◆ Sviatoslava Luchenko ◆ Ilya Kurtev ◆ Aleksey Igudesman ◆ Valentina Dubrovina ◆ Benjamin Nyffenegger ◆ Roman Patkoló ◆ Stefanie Gygax ◆ Andreas Berger ◆ David Stauffacher ◆ Stefan Tarara ◆ Lucy Landymore ◆ The Art of Music ◆ Dave Marks ◆ Evgeny Sinaiski ◆ …
More than classic
Board Members
Irina Pak is an excellent violinist. I admire her music, her wealth of ideas and her innovative strength.
Jürg Bachmann
President
Media expert and lecturer at the University of St. Gallen; President of KS/CS Kommunikation Schweiz.
My great passion is making music and interacting with the audience – the language I know best.
Irina Pak
Vice President, co-founder
A passionate violinist with a multicultural background, known for performances that blend emotion and innovation.
I've been in search of paradise on earth for years – music can be a help…
Thomas Heinrich Eggenberger
Board member, co-founder
Active in the financial sector since 1992 (family office, real estate, art trade); founder of Teatro Soladino.
The best thing for me is to see the joy on the faces of listeners when the music touches them.
Debora Haller
Secretary
Sociolinguist and science communicator working in cultural management, communication and marketing.
Team & Collaborators
More Than Classic is supported by a dedicated network of professionals working across artistic production, event management, marketing, communications and operations.
Depending on the project, we collaborate with musicians, creatives, production specialists and external partners who contribute their expertise to bringing our ideas to life.
Music is a language of numbers and feelings – precision and harmony create sustainable beauty.
Alexandro Leopold
Treasurer
Manages budget, expenses and financial compliance for the association.
More Than Classic is a Zurich-based cultural association. As a non-profit organization, we use our funds for cultural work and the further development of our projects.
SUPPORT MORE THAN CLASSIC
Become part of what is being created
With your support, new concert ideas can flourish, musicians can be fairly compensated, and special projects can be further developed in the long term. Every contribution helps us to make music accessible in new ways and reach people with it.
One-time or annual contributions are possible.
Do you have questions about the association or about supporting us? Feel free to write to us at friends@morethanclassic.ch
VOICES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Reviews on Google
★★★★★
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 by our audience on Google
★★★★★
Vivaldi meets rock was simply fantastic. Great musicians, lots of energy, brilliant interpretations, and a real joy in the music! Goosebump moments – thank you so much for the wonderful evening! We’d love to come again!
Lo Renz
★★★★★
Vivaldi meets Rock – what energy they transferred to the concert hall! The quartet's sparkling passion, led by Irina, was instantly contagious. The fusion of Baroque and rock was superb. The audience showed their appreciation with numerous encores and a standing ovation. We'd love to see them again.
Marc-Oliver Stöcklin
★★★★★
It was a uniquely amazing show of fusion between classical music and classic rock. Never seen something like this before. Waiting for the next show!
Prat Das Kanungo
★★★★★
Great concert, great combination of classic and rock music. Would definitely go back and also recommend. Thank you for the amazing experience.
Christos Vorgiatzidis
★★★★★
Ich gehe oft mit meiner Freundin zu den Konzerten. Wir werden immer verzaubert von der Musik. Kann ich nur jedem empfehlen.
Sultan
★★★★★
Amazing concert. Such a great energy. Had a great time and would definitely recommend.
Maria Thm
LET'S TALK
Let's get to know each other
Would you like to learn more about More Than Classic, collaborate with us, or do you have an idea?
We look forward to hearing from you!
