Biography

Joel von Lerber is regarded as one of the leading harpists of his generation. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the İzmir State Symphony Orchestra, the State Hermitage Orchestra in St. Petersburg, the Mexico City Symphony Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Zabrze Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra in China. Further concerto appearances have included collaborations with the Thüringer Symphoniker, Brandenburger Symphoniker, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, Bayerisches Kammerorchester Bad Brückenau, Berner Kammerorchester, Kammerphilharmonie Graubünden, and Orchestre de Chambre de Fribourg. During the 2023/24 season, he served as Artist in Residence with the Filharmonia Zielonogórska in Poland.

In addition to his concerto appearances, Joel has performed as a soloist with the Berliner Staatsballett at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and regularly appears in recital and chamber music concerts at major concert halls and festivals.

Since September 2024, Joel von Lerber has been Lecturer of Harp at the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.

Born in Switzerland, Joel began studying the harp at the age of six at the Conservatory of Bern with Nathalie Chatelain and Simon Bilger. He continued his studies with Prof. Sarah O’Brien at the Hochschule für Musik Basel, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts with honours. He subsequently earned a Master of Performance with honours at the Zurich University of the Arts before continuing his studies with Prof. Maria Graf at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, where he completed both his Master of Music and Konzertexamen with highest distinction. His final concert examination in 2019 marked his debut as soloist with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in the Konzerthaus Berlin.

His artistic development has been further enriched through masterclasses and mentorship from distinguished musicians including Helga Storck, Isabelle Moretti, Jana Boušková, Xavier de Maistre, and pianist Pavlin Nechev.

Joel von Lerber is an award-winning musician whose achievements include First Prize at the International Franz Josef Reinl Foundation Harp Competition, First Prize and the Audience Prize at the International Louis Spohr Competition, Second Prize at the International Harp Competition in Akko (Israel), Second Prize and the Orchestra Prize at the Michał Spisak International Music Competition in Poland, Second Prize at the Mexico International Harp Competition, Third Prize at the Golden Harp Competition in St. Petersburg, Sixth Prize at the USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington, Indiana, as well as multiple prestigious study grants from the Migros Culture Percentage Foundation and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Alongside his solo career, Joel has performed as guest principal harp with numerous renowned orchestras, including the Komische Oper Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Sinfonia Varsovia, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen, Philharmonisches Orchester der Hansestadt Lübeck, Staatstheater Braunschweig, Kammerorchester Bern, and musicAeterna under the direction of Teodor Currentzis.

Joel has collaborated with numerous radio and television broadcasters for live concerts, recordings, and interviews, and his discography includes two acclaimed solo albums, showcasing both the traditional and contemporary harp repertoire.

As a recitalist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, recording artist, and pedagogue, Joel von Lerber regularly appears at major concert halls, festivals, and international masterclasses, combining a broad artistic vision with a commitment to expanding the harp’s role as a solo instrument.