Florian Pfister is a composer, conductor and trumpet player from Bern, whose artistic focus lies in composing for large ensembles. Fascinated by the richness and depth of the sound produced by a big band, brass band or symphony orchestra, he weaves elements of jazz, classical music and wind band literature into his art. A defining feature of his language as a composer is the unique lyrical quality, which permeates his work regardless of instrumentation or style.

Born in 1998 in Bern, Florian grows up in the rural town of Worb. Inspired by a childhood fascination with knights and medieval castles, he first picks up a trumpet. Convinced that any true knight must master the trumpet, he throws himself into practicing and soon joins the local youth wind band. He gains his first stage experience years later with the Big Band of his high school. Here Florian also discovers his passion for jazz and composition. Since the dream of becoming a knight does not survive adolescence, he decides to study trumpet at the Bern University of the Arts under Bert Joris and Ralph Alessi. Winning a Hirschmann Scholarship then enables him to pursue a master’s degree in contemporary composition, studying with Django Bates and Stefan Schulze.

In 2023, Florian releases his debut album Into The Abyss. Created in collaboration with Ukrainian artist Oleksandra Gorshevikova, the record is not published as a conventional CD but as a hardcover book featuring original illustrations inspired by the music. Warmly received within the Swiss jazz scene, the transdisciplinary project is performed at various venues, such as Musiù – Cave à Jazz and the BeJazz Club.
That same year, Florian founds his own jazz orchestra, Flo Pfister’s Large Ensemble, and writes his first complete concert set for big band. He has since performed this program both with his own ensemble and with other orchestras, including Bern’s Uptown Big Band.

International recognition follows in 2024, when Florian is invited to the finals of the Jazz Comp Graz European Composition Competition. There he impresses the jury—including John Hollenbeck and Kathrine Windfeld—with his piece Will-o’-Wisp and wins first prize. Since then, his commissions expand beyond jazz orchestra to include works for brass band, string quartet, and symphonic wind ensemble.

Alongside his work as a composer, Florian is active as a conductor in the Swiss wind band scene. In addition to his permanent posts with Brass Band Arni-Worb, the Köniz-Wabern & Belp Wind Band, and the Brass Band Zäziwil, he regularly leads sectional rehearsals and appears as a guest conductor with other regional orchestras.