A cello on one’s back weighs seven kilos. Its tradition, however, weighs considerably more heavily and can sometimes even become a burden when breaking new ground. Valerie Fritz brings her vision to the stage with unwavering determination, impressing audiences with her versatile repertoire and innovative programme design. Among other honours, she has received the Berlin Prize for Young Artists and was named ECHO Rising Star for the 2025/26 season.

Both as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles, she seeks a direct, sensitive dialogue with the audience and close collaboration with composers. Formative artistic encounters with figures such as Georg Friedrich Haas and Jennifer Walshe have given rise to new works that are, in a sense, tailor-made for her and integrate performative elements such as singing, whispering or speaking into her cello playing.  

Born in Tyrol, Valerie Fritz grew up in a family with a deeply rooted musical tradition. This vibrant environment shaped her from early childhood and laid the foundations for her artistic development. She studied at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg with Clemens Hagen and Giovanni Gnocchi. In the 2026/27 season, Valerie Fritz will make her debut with the WDR Symphony Orchestra, the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.