ELISABETH HARNIK, an Austria based pianist and composer has created a multi- faceted body of work by blurring genre boundaries through various collaborations in the field of improvised music, interdisciplinary projects, sound art and contemporary compositional works. She studied classical piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, followed later by composition studies with Beat Furrer. Her compositional activities have led to commissions and performances of her works in Austria and beyond.
As an improviser she works within an electro-acoustic inspired sound world, using specific preparations and extended techniques while pushing the limitations of the piano. Her performances draw from physicality and introspection, intuitive playing and high precision. She has worked worldwide with many internationally recognised representatives of the contemporary jazz scene having f.e. long-standing musical friendships with Joëlle Léandre or musicians of the Chicago scene (Ken Vandermark, Michael Zerang, Dave Rempis...). CD releases document her compositional and pianistic activities.
Besides her solo performances she is member of numerous ensembles for improvised music and has performed and recorded with a number of internationally recognised representatives of the contemporary jazz scene in Europe and abroad. Festival appearances include Ulrichsberger Kaleidophon, Nickelsdorfer Konfrontationen, Artacts Festival St. Johann, International Jazz Festival Leibnitz, Unlimited Festival Wels, Taktlos Festival Zurich, Ictus Festival Milan, Comprovise Festival Cologne, Beethoven Fest Bonn, A L'ARME! Festival Berlin, Jazz & More Festival Sibiu, Audio Art Festival Pula, Krakow Jazz Autumn Festival, Ad Libitum Festival Warsaw, Alpenglow Festival London, All Ears Festival Oslo, Umbrella Music Festival Chicago, Okka Fest Milwaukee, Musicacoustica Beijing, Sound-Out Festival Canberra and Jazz na Fábrica Festival São Paulo.
Numerous CD releases document both her compositional and pianistic activities. Elisabeth Harnik has received many scholarships and awards, most recently the Andrzej Dobrowolski Composition Prize of the Province of Styria/Austria.