About Me

As well as being an active member the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra (SJSO), she has had the opportunity to tour through Europe with organisations such as Jugendsinfonieorchester Zürich, and the ‘Peace Orchestra Project’ founded by pianist Federico Gad Crema. She has collaborated and performed with conductors Lorenzo Viotti, Giacomo Noseda, Christoph Mathias-Müller, Markus Stenz, clarinettist Matthias Müller, and pianists Martha Argerich, Benjamin Engeli, and Marc-André Hamelin.

Taking part in these projects has invaluably offered her formative orchestral experiences, sharpened her focus, and deepened her commitment to working within the orchestral field.  Alongside her work at music store Notenpunkt Zürich, she is currently undertaking a second master’s degree at the Hochschule Luzern under the professorship of Robert Pickup.

Having grown up in Sydney, Yasmine moved to Switzerland in 2021. She was immediately impressed by how deeply classical music is appreciated and woven into the European culture. She is passionate about chamber and orchestral playing, and her ambition is to achieve an orchestral position.

Extended Biography

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

Over the course of her recently completed Specialised Master in Orchestra Studies at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, she 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.