Katharina Gross is an Austrian cellist and composer whose work explores the expressive boundaries of the cello through bold performance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and adventurous new music. With a deep classical foundation and a passion for expanding the instrument’s voice, Gross has become a distinctive and influential figure in today’s international music landscape.
As a performer, Gross has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Philharmonic Orchestra of Kyiv, Staatsorchester Kassel, and Salzburg Chamber Soloists. Her recital career has taken her to leading venues including the Musikverein Vienna, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and festivals in Boston, Tehran, London, New Zealand, and Uzbekistan. She is known for her technically refined, emotionally direct performances, often combining traditional repertoire with newly commissioned works.
In parallel to her performance career, composition has become a central pillar of her artistic output. Gross composes primarily for her own instrument, creating works that integrate sound, movement, and visual design. Her recent piece Images Intérieures, developed during an artist residency at Aubette 1928 in Strasbourg, reveals her interest in introspection, sonic layering, and spatial performance. In these works, she treats the cello not just as an instrument, but as a voice for storytelling, texture, and resonance.
A major part of her creative identity is her founding of cellomondo in 2010—a global commissioning project inviting composers from around the world to write solo works for cello. The initiative fosters cultural diversity in contemporary cello repertoire and has grown into a long-term collaboration with composers across five continents. These works are performed in concert marathons and festivals, and recorded on albums such as Inside, released on the Austrian label einklang records. Through cellomondo, Gross not only expands the literature for her instrument, but also acts as a bridge between cultures, generations, and musical idioms.
Her innovative spirit is also evident in her multimedia collaboration with composer Arnold Marinissen on the Cello Songbook. The centerpiece of this project, Cello Box, combines music, theatre, and light design in a micro-theatrical performance space. Toured across the Netherlands and featured at events like the Cello Biennale Amsterdam and Cross-Linx Festival, the work reimagines the recital experience and showcases Gross’s range as performer, storyteller, and co-creator.
Gross is equally committed to chamber music, education, and artistic leadership. She curates concertello, a concert series dedicated to contemporary music in Austria, and regularly performs in experimental chamber settings. Whether playing, composing, or commissioning, her work emphasizes curiosity, craftsmanship, and connection—qualities that make her an inspiring presence for audiences and students alike.
Through her artistry and vision, Katharina Gross is redefining what it means to be a cellist and composer in the 21st century—one who listens deeply, creates boldly, and invites others into the conversation of sound.