Harold Oberlechner

Harold Oberlechner (born 1963) serves as Senior Lecturer in Zither at Mozarteum University's Department of Music Education across Salzburg and Innsbruck campuses, while also teaching at the Tyrolean State Conservatory. His career centers on establishing the zither as a classical concert instrument through performance innovation and cross-genre composition.

He studied zither with Peter Suitner at the Conservatory of the City of Innsbruck, forming the foundation for his dual expertise in traditional Alpine folk and contemporary classical techniques.

Oberlechner's research spans zither performance in folk, classical, and jazz contexts, with significant contributions to early music transcription (Bach, Dowland, Weiss) and new music composition. His initiatives through publishing house Psalteria actively expand the zither repertoire, while world premieres of contemporary works by composers like Günter Andrich demonstrate his role in modernizing the instrument's classical applications.

Internationally active across Europe with ensembles including Trio Unicum and Ensemble Psalteria, he has composed for documentaries such as "Magic Easter" and "Die Salzstraße", and released recordings "Zithermusig" (2000, Alpine folk) and "Puzzle" (2002, new music), showcasing his transdisciplinary approach to zither artistry.