Eszter Haffner is considered one of the most exciting and respected violinists and teachers of our time.
Currently, she is Professor of Violin both at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria, and at the Royal Academy of Music Copenhagen, Denmark.
Previously, Eszter was Professor of Violin at the University of Music Graz, Austria. As a guest professor, she taught at Royal College London, Franz Liszt Academy Budapest, Aurora Old-Ox Stockholm, Sibelius Academy Helsinki, Music Academy Stockholm, Yale University, Eastman School of Music, Jacobs School Bloomington, among other institutions.
Over the last 25 years, she has been captivating audiences around the world with her distinctively rich sound, superb musicianship, and outstanding interpretations. She has established close relationships with many of the most prestigious conductors and orchestras. Her social missions and her tireless commitment to the arts of the Republic of Austria was rewarded, in the summer of 2021, with the federal award “Golden Decoration” of Honor, for artistic services to the Republic of Austria.
Eszter plays the 1750 "ex Hamma Segelmann" Violin by Nicola Bergonzi, on loan to her from the Austrian National Bank. Her strings are kindly sponsored by “Larsen Strings“, her bow by Mr. Charles Shih.
She is a member of Haffner Strings, Haffner Trio, and “Aurora Chamber” in Sweden. She works as a consultant for the organization “Live Music Now” in Vienna, founded by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, the Aurora and Old Ox Festivals, in Sweden, and the “Virtuoso Belcanto” Festival in Lucca, Italy.
Eszter Haffner studied at the Budapest Liszt Music Academy with Andras Kiss, Ferenc Rados, and György Kurtag. After the completion of her studies in Hungary, she went to the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna to study with Gerhard Schulz and Josef Sivo. She also studied with Josef Gingold, Alberto Lysy, Tibor Varga, Sandor Vegh, and she completed her postgraduate studies in the Netherlands with Viktor Libermann and Philip Hirschhorn. During her studies, she was a prize winner in numerous international competitions.
As soloist and chamber musician (both in violin and viola), she has played with artists such as Clemens Hagen, Gerhard Schulz, Leonard Hokanson, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Alexander Lonquich, Lars Anders Tomter, Patrick Demenga, Marianna Shirinian and Stefan Vladar.
Her recordings reflect her unusually extensive musical range, covering chamber and concerto works, from Haydn to Eisler.
She is often invited as a jury member by international violin competitions, such as Spohr Competition in Germany, Isang Yung Competition in Korea, Piccolo Magico Violin Competition in Italy, Szymanowsky Competition, and Baczewich Competition in Poland, Serguei Azizian Competition in Denmark, Singapore Violin Competition, Brahms Competition, among many others.