Simon Foerster is a German harpist who thoughtfully incorporates his instrument into a wide range of settings.His interests span orchestral and operatic music, contemporary works, and interdisciplinary collaboration, which he explores through various ensembles and partnerships. He completed his Bachelor’s degree at the Freiburg University of Music and earned his Master’s degree in 2018 at the Mannheim University of Music. Additionally, he pursued further studies at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. Simon’s education was enriched by masterclasses with renowned artists such as Erika Waardenburg, Fabrice Pierre, Miriam Overlach, ensemble recherche, the Verdi Quartet, as well as institutions like the Academy for Contemporary Music Lucerne and the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music. After completing his Master’s, he undertook a year-long orchestral academy with the opera orchestras of Mannheim and Heidelberg, the State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate, and the Palatinate Chamber Orchestra.
He has been awarded the Wittner Promotion Prize and the Sparda Classic Award and was also a scholarship recipient of Live Music Now.
As both an orchestral musician and soloist, Simon is regularly invited to perform with various orchestras. He has appeared with the National Theatre Mannheim, the State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Philharmonic Orchestra Heidelberg, Pforzheim Theatre, and the Palatinate Chamber Orchestra, among others. Additionally, he has participated in numerous recordings for radio and television.
Throughout his career, Simon has gained extensive experience with a wide range of orchestral, operatic, and choral repertoire.
He performed regularly in a chamber music setting with Trio Momentum, an ensemble specializing in contemporary music. He also collaborates with various artists in the field of experimental electroacoustic music. In addition, he has gained experience in performance art. He has appeared at a range of festivals, including ImpulsTanz in Vienna, the Darmstadt Summer Course for New Music and Enjoy Jazz Festival Mannheim.
In 2024, he released the album Neuhermsheim together with Elias FS, a improvised album with his brother. On this recording he performs on harp, shakuhachi, piano, and other instruments. In the same year he featured as a soloist on the album Şafakların Cihangiri with Stefan Pohlit & Tahir Aydoğdu and the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz
Since 2018, he has taught at the Mannheim Music School. In 2024, he gave a course on extended techniques for harp to the composition class of Prof. Sidney Corbett at the Mannheim University of Music. In the same year, he also taught harp and improvisation at Norwich School.
He has been based in Norwich since August 2024.
Simon Foerster 