Est. 2017 – Zurich
About
Us
Storytellers through sound, light and emotion. We reimagine what a classical concert can be.
Our Story
Not just musicians – storytellers.
More Than Classic is a Zurich-based association led by artistic director and violinist Irina Pak. Since our founding in 2017, one motivation has driven everything we do: innovation, moments and emotion.
Through music, light and visuals we create immersive concerts that blend the timeless beauty of classical music with the energy of pop, rock, film and anime – bringing sound into churches, museums, botanical gardens, corporate stages and unexpected public spaces.
We've collaborated with Projektil Experience, Fever Candlelight, TEDx, Hauser & Wirth, Maag Halle Zurich, the FIFA Museum, Zurich Airport, Verkehrshaus Planetarium Lucerne, Mainau Island and BMX artist Chris Böhm – partnerships that keep growing and inspiring new ones.
In the symphony of life, every note resonates with a story. Through More Than Classic, we weave music with the vibrant threads of art, sport and technology into a harmonious tapestry rich in culture and diversity.
Irina Pak
Founder & Artistic Director
01
Our Goals
We inspire audiences with unique, high-quality musical experiences – developing concert formats that are genuinely new. We combine music with other art forms and with non-artistic worlds like technology, sport, travel and food, often choosing unusual venues.
02
Our Mission
We believe classical music has the power to bring people together. Our mission is to make it unifying, relevant and accessible for today's audiences – rethinking the concert format with unusual combinations, diverse stories, and emotion at the core.
The Ensemble
Our Musicians
At the heart of every performance are our world-class musicians. We collaborate with internationally acclaimed artists from across the globe, including:
- ◆String ensembles – from duo, string quartet to full string orchestra
- ◆Pianists and keyboardists – classical, crossover, and experimental
- ◆Percussionists – both acoustic and electronic
- ◆Electro instruments – including e-violin, e-viola, e-cello, e-guitar, and more
- ◆Jazz, pop, and classical vocalists
- ◆Soloists – violin, e-violin, percussion, piano, vocals, and beyond
Their virtuosity, passion, and stage presence bring every performance to life – from intimate chamber formats to large-scale, multimedia crossover productions.
Zurich Virtuosi (orchestra of 10–80 musicians) ◆ Coen Strouken (viola) ◆ Solme Hong (cello) ◆ Ken Kaneda (cello) ◆ Kateryna Tereshchenko (piano) ◆ Stefan Baumann (cello) ◆ Stefan Tarara (violin) ◆ Lucy Landymore (drummer) ◆ Amelia Maszońska (violin) ◆ Juan Carlos Escobar (viola) ◆ The Art of Music Ensemble ◆ Dave Marks (guitar, composer) ◆ Yulia Miloslavskaya (piano) ◆ Evgeny Sinaiski (piano) ◆ Alex Wilson (piano, composer) ◆ Marianna Nevolovitsch (piano) ◆ Philippe Kuhn (piano) ◆ Anna Hauner (piano) ◆ Mikhail Mordvinov (piano) ◆ Sviatoslava Luchenko (bandura, voice) ◆ Ilya Kurtev (accordion) ◆ Aleksey Igudesman (violin) ◆ Isabel Geiweihler (cello) ◆ Valentina Dubrovina (cello) ◆ Benjamin Nyffenegger (violoncello) ◆ Roman Patkoló (double bass) ◆ Stefanie Gygax (soprano) ◆ Andreas Berger (percussion) ◆ David Stauffacher (percussion, production) ◆ Evgenia Murtazaeva (violin)
Leadership
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, Artistic Director
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
General Board Member, Co-Founder, Fundraising
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
Board Administrator
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
Finance Officer
Manages budget, expenses and financial compliance for the association.
More Than Classic ist ein nicht gewinnorientierter Verein mit Sitz in Zürich. Über die Aufnahme entscheidet der Vorstand gemäss unseren Statuten.
Support More Than Classic
Help us create new ways to experience classical music. Support our work with a one-off or an annual contribution.
What People Say
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 – welch Energie wurde in den Konzertsaal transferiert. Das sprühende Feuer des Quartett, unter Führung von Irina, ist sofort übergesprungen. Das Zusammenfliessen von Barock und Rock gelang hervorragend. Das Publikum verdankte es mit zahlreichen Zugaben und standing ovations. Jederzeit wieder.
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
Bei Interesse an einer Vereinsmitgliedschaft, bei Fragen zum Verein oder wenn Sie uns unterstützen möchten, können Sie sich gerne per E-Mail an den Vorstand unter info@morethanclassic.ch wenden.
Let's Talk
Let's Create Something
Unforgettable Together
Have a venue, a brand or an occasion in mind? We'd love to hear from you.
