Über Jesper
The Swiss–Dutch violinist Jesper Gasseling’s performances have been described as “thrilling, uncompromising – without a safety net.” (Luzerner Zeitung) His musical voice comes alive through the unique, nearly 400-year-old Nicolo Amati violin (1641) generously on loan from a Swiss private collection — a companion that Gasseling describes as a “a time machine between tradition and the present.”
As a soloist and chamber musician, Gasseling explores the violin and chamber music repertoire in search of unexpected accents, sound colours, and the stories in between the notes. Deeply rooted in the golden age of violin playing, his artistic lineage traces back directly to legends such as Eugene Ysaye and Jascha Heifetz, through his mentor Rudolf Koelman, the last student of Heifetz, as well as his mentor Anne-Sophie Mutter. An obsession with sound and sound colours lies at the core of his musical approach.
«Ein junger Geiger mit internationalem Flair»
Gasseling has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at leading venues including Wigmore Hall London, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Mozarteum Salzburg, Stadtcasino Basel, the Philharmonies of Berlin, Cologne and Paris, and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. He performs regularly at festivals such as the Lucerne Festival, GAIA Festival Bern, Blutenburg Festival Munich, and tours frequently throughout Asia.
Jesper founded the SEEKLANG Festival which celebrates its 10th edition in 2026. This festival is dedicated to innovative concert formats bringing an almost tangible quality to classical music. Neue Zürcher Zeitung awarded it a 5/5-star review while the Luzerner Zeitung praised the festival’s vision as “exciting and fresh” and highlights Jesper’s engaging speeches in between the pieces.
Jesper Gasseling studied in Lucerne, Salzburg, London and Zurich, earning two Master’s degrees and an Artist Diploma with distinction, under the guidance of Rudolf Koelman, Daniel Dodds, Keiko Wataya and Boris Brovtsyn. Alongside his performing career, he is deeply committed to supporting the next generation of violinists, teaching as professor at the Musikschule Stadt St. Gallen, and by founding his conductor-less string ensemble at his university in London as well as serving on the board of a foundation providing scholarships for young musicians.