Austrian artist Constanze Hochwartner is an internationally touring solo organist and pianist as well as part of the Duo Steiner-Hochwartner. Her 2022/2023 season involves tours throughout Asia, Scandinavia, and the USA. In addition, she will give solo performances on the organ as well as duo concerts in Austria, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland.
Constanze received her first piano lessons at the young age of three, before being accepted into a class for gifted students in 2005 at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. After graduating from high school, she switched her focus from piano to organ and started her studies in concert performance for organ with Univ. Prof. Ulrich Walther. Simultaneously, she studied instrumental and vocal pedagogy with an additional focus on piano and graduated in the Fall of 2017. In October 2019 she finished her Master's degree studying with Univ. Prof. Karin Tafeit (organ) at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. She has also been mentored by Univ. Prof. Gunther Rost.
Constanze has given solo performances around the globe, including organ concerts in Europe, the United States, and South America. She performed as a soloist in the Graz Cathedral in 2015 and 2016 and at the “Grazer Orgelfrühling” 2016 in the Herz Jesu-Kirche in Graz. In June 2017 she gave a recital in the parish church of St. Xaver in Leoben and concerts with the brass ensemble of the University of Music and Performing Arts.
In 2017, Constanze began collaborating with trombonist Peter Steiner and formed the Duo Steiner-Hochwartner. For their debut 2017/2018 season the Duo maintained an ambitious international performance schedule, including an 8-week USA tour (40 concerts), a concert at the Wartburg Festival (Eisenach, Germany), and a series of concerts in Europe (Austria, Italy, and Switzerland). The 2018/2019 season highlights include a 3-month World Tour with both solo organ recitals and performances with the Duo in South America, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Other performances with the Duo during the 2018-2019 season included a tour in Japan and two additional USA tours. Her 2019/2020 season involved a world tour including solo performances on the organ as well as Duo concerts in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the USA.
Constanze’s debut album SAPPHIRE, in collaboration with Peter Steiner, was released in July 2019 under the Berlin Classics label. Their CD Release Tour brought them to Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States. Her second album BINARY STAR, on which Constanze plays organ, was released in May 2021, again under the Berlin Classics label and in collaboration with Peter Steiner. The Christmas album THE FIRST NOËL – a Collection including both instruments (organ and piano) paired with trombone was released in December 2021. Her most recent album 2022 was brought to the public on an extensive 3-month album release tour this past summer.