Esther Hoppe

A violinist between music and humanity

Esther Hoppe puts the music first, not herself. Born in Zug in 1978, the violinist has pursued an international career as a soloist, chamber musician and pedagogue for over two decades. Her values are rooted in clarity, patience and the conviction that honesty in performance is more important than pleasing. The central pillar of it all: her family.

Hoppe studied in Basel, Philadelphia, London and Zurich and has won, among other prizes, the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg and the ARD Competition in Munich. Her complete recording of J. S. Bach’s solo works for violin was met with great acclaim worldwide. Since 2013, she has been teaching as a professor of violin at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, where she passes on her knowledge to a new generation.

In 2025, Hoppe returned to Switzerland to take over as artistic director of the Camerata Zürich. She finds inspiration in encounters with people, in nature and in observing other art forms. No two weeks are the same for her. What remains is the drive to make music as directly accessible as possible.

Excerpt from the jury statement

As an interpreter of the highest level, Esther Hoppe enjoys great recognition in the classical music scene and serves as a bridge between the stage and teaching.