Extended Biography

Yasmine Urquhart is a Swiss-Australian clarinettist currently residing in Switzerland.

In summer 2026, she will begin an internship at the Musikkollegium Winterthur. She is currently undertaking a second Master’s degree at the Hochschule Luzern under the professorship of Robert Pickup, alongside her work at the music store Notenpunkt Zürich.

She has been a substitute at the Orchester der Oper Zürich since completing a Volontariat as part of her Specialised Master’s in Orchestra at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, performing in multiple productions at the Opernhaus Zürich under conductors Lorenzo Viotti and Giacomo Noseda. She was also an invitee and participant of the Zermatt Music Festival Orchestra & Academy in 2024 and 2025, where she collaborated with members of the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin (Berliner Philharmoniker) and worked with musicians such as Heinz Holliger and Radek Baborák.

Earlier this year, she appeared as a soloist with the Kammerorchester Bülach and partook in concerts with the Zuger Kammerensemble. Preceding this, she was a joint recipient of the ‘Sonderpreis’ (Special Prize) at the 2025 Orpheus Competition as a member of Ensemble Brisae. Yasmine is also an active member of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra and has participated in orchestral tours and projects with ensembles such as the Jugendsinfonieorchester Zürich, Jugendsinfonieorchester Thurgau, and the Peace Orchestra Project founded by pianist Federico Gad Crema.

Since moving to Zurich in 2021, Yasmine has collaborated and performed under conductors including Lorenzo Viotti, Giacomo Noseda, Christoph-Mathias Müller, and Markus Stenz, as well as with clarinettist Matthias Müller and pianists Martha Argerich, Benjamin Engeli, and Marc-André Hamelin. She has performed on multiple occasions at venues such as the Tonhalle Zürich, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Casino Bern, Basel Stadtcasino, and Musikkollegium Winterthur.

Yasmine has also participated in masterclasses with clarinettists such as Alberto Culmone, Nicolai Pfeffer, Jérôme Comte, Philippe Cuper, Filipa Nunes, Shirley Brill, Bjørn Nyman, Roman Widaszek, Bernhard Röthlisberger, and composer John Adams. She has received regular lessons from professors including Florian Walser, Felix Genner, Rita Meyer, and Matthias Müller.

Since the age of 7 Yasmine has been playing both the Clarinet and Cello. Her love for music grew through involvement in extensive musical studies and orchestral projects. During her time in Sydney, she was involved in programs with the NSW Schools Spectacular, the Sydney Youth Orchestra, and the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. In 2019 she was accepted into the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra National Winter Academy and was invited to the Australian Festival of Chamber Music’s Masterclass Program with her Sydney-based wind quintet. Additionally, she was invited to the Sydney Government House to perform for the Governor of NSW, as well as in venues such as the Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Town Hall, International Towers in Barangaroo, and the Australian Museum, Sydney.

Yasmine initially undertook studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Francesco Celata (Sydney Symphony Orchestra). In 2020 she achieved her LMusA with Distinction (Licentiate in Music, Australia) after having completed the Higher School Certificate at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School in 2019. She then successfully completed her Bachelor of Music at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in June 2023.

Yasmine’s extensive exposure to orchestral and chamber music projects has sharpened her focus and deepened her commitment to pursuing an orchestral career. She is passionate about ensemble playing, and her ambition is to secure a permanent position in an orchestra.e held an internship position at the Philharmonia Zürich, in which she performed as part of the orchestra in multiple productions at the Opernhaus Zürich under conductors Lorenzo Viotti and Giacomo Noseda. This and last summer she was an invitee and participant of the Zermatt Music Festival, at which she could rehearse and perform alongside members of the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin (Berliner Philharmoniker), and work under renowned musicians such as Heinz Holliger and Radek Baborak. Her extensive exposure to orchestral and chamber music projects have only sharpened her focus and deepened her commitment to pursuing an orchestral career. She recently won the position of principal clarinet with the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra (SJSO), performing on the 2025 autumn tour under the direction of Johannes Schläfli, and was a joint recipient of the ‘Sonderpreis’ (Special Prize) in the 2025 Orpheus Competition as a member of the Ensemble Brisae.  In the upcoming season, she will appear as a soloist with the Kammerorchester Bülach. 

Alongside her projects and work, she is currently undertaking a second master’s degree at the Hochschule Luzern under the professorship of Robert Pickup, who is furthering her on path. 

Since moving to Zurich in 2021, Yasmine has had the opportunity to perform on multiple occasions at venues such as the Tonhalle Zürich, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Casino Bern, Basel Stadtcasino, and Musikkollegium Winterthur. She has also been involved in projects with the Orchester der ZHdK, the Jugendsinfonieorchester Thurgau, and the Jugendsinfonieorchester Zürich, notably working under conductors such as Markus Stenz and Christoph-Mathias Müller.

In the Summer of 2023, Yasmine toured as part of the Peace Orchestra Project founded by pianist Federico Gad Crema. She collaborated and performed with artists Riccardo Castro, Martha Argerich, and Marc-André Hamelin at numerous concert venues and festivals across Europe; notably the Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Galli Rimini, Bologna Festival, and the Oropa Music Festival Biella.

Yasmine has also participated in masterclasses with clarinettists such as Alberto Culmone, Nicolai Pfeffer, Jérôme Comte, Philippe Cuper, Filipa Nunes, Shirley Brill, Bjørn Nyman, Roman Widaszek, Bernhard Röthlisberger, and composer John Adams. She has received regular lessons from professors including Florian Walser, Felix Genner, Rita Meyer, and Matthias Müller. 

Since the age of 7 Yasmine has been playing both the Clarinet and Cello. Her love for music grew through involvement in extensive musical studies and orchestral projects. During her time in Sydney, she was involved in programs with the NSW Schools Spectacular, the Sydney Youth Orchestra, and the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. In 2019 she was accepted into the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra National Winter Academy and was invited to the Australian Festival of Chamber Music’s Masterclass Program with her Sydney-based wind quintet. Additionally, she was invited to the Sydney Government House to perform for the Governor of NSW, as well as in venues such as the Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Town Hall, International Towers in Barangaroo, and the Australian Museum, Sydney. 

Yasmine undertook studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Francesco Celata (Sydney Symphony Orchestra). In 2020 she achieved her LMusA with Distinction (Licentiate in Music, Australia) after having completed the Higher School Certificate at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School in 2019. She then successfully completed her Bachelor of Music at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in June 2023.

Yasmine is passionate about chamber and orchestral playing, and her ambition is to achieve an orchestral position.