Hiring a live pianist in Switzerland usually costs between CHF 800 and CHF 4,500. A wedding ceremony on its own starts at CHF 800, full wedding-day coverage runs to about CHF 3,200, and large corporate evenings reach CHF 4,500. The final figure depends on three things: the kind of event, how long you need music, and where it takes place. Here is how that price is actually built, so you can plan with confidence.
Price at a glance
| Event type | Typical coverage | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding — ceremony only | 45–60 minutes | CHF 800–1,200 |
| Wedding — ceremony + cocktail hour | 2–2.5 hours | CHF 1,500–2,200 |
| Wedding — full day | 3–4 hours | CHF 2,200–3,200 |
| Ceremony music on its own | 45 minutes to 2.5 hours | CHF 800–2,200 |
| Corporate events and galas | 1–5 hours | CHF 1,200–4,500 |
| Private celebrations and birthdays | 1–4 hours | CHF 800–3,500 |
| Hotel, lounge and piano-bar evenings | Evening sets or residency | On request |
These are the same ranges published on the individual booking pages — not teaser rates. If you already know your event type, the wedding pianist page, the corporate event pianist page and the private event pianist page break each range down into concrete packages, with durations and what every package includes.
Within each range, the lower end usually corresponds to shorter coverage, a venue that is easy to reach and repertoire drawn from the existing programme; the upper end reflects longer evenings, more travel or bespoke preparation. Hotel and lounge evenings are quoted individually, because they are often booked as a recurring residency rather than a single date.
What you are really paying for
A performance fee is never only the hour you hear on stage. It covers the years of training behind every phrase, the hours of preparation for your specific occasion, learning any special requests, travel to your venue, and keeping an instrument in true concert condition. When you book a professional pianist, you are paying for the certainty that the music will be right on the day.
What a quote includes
Every package quote covers considerably more than playing time:
- A consultation to plan the repertoire, timeline and cues around your event
- A customised programme — classical, jazz, film music or elegant pop arrangements, matched to the occasion
- Preparation time, including bespoke arrangements of songs that matter to you
- The performance itself, with seamless transitions between the moments of your event
- Coordination with your venue, celebrant, planner or AV team where needed
What is not automatically included is the instrument: if your venue has no suitable piano, rental is arranged separately (more on that below).
Deposit, payment and cancellation
The payment terms are simple and published openly. A booking is confirmed with a 30% deposit when the performance agreement is signed; the remaining balance is due 7 days before the event. Payment works by bank transfer or TWINT, and corporate clients can pay by invoice. The agreement itself sets out the date, time, location, duration and repertoire expectations, so both sides know exactly what has been promised.
Cancellation follows a sliding scale: more than 60 days before the event you receive a full refund minus a small processing fee, between 30 and 60 days half is refunded, and inside 30 days the deposit is retained. If you need to reschedule rather than cancel, the earlier you get in touch, the more flexibility there is to find a new date.
Do you need to provide a piano?
Most venues — hotels, churches, event halls — already have a grand or upright piano. Where there is none, this is easily solved: I can coordinate a professional acoustic or digital rental, billed separately at cost. Outdoor settings usually call for a digital or upright instrument suitable for open air, some weather protection and, depending on guest numbers, light amplification. It is worth settling the instrument question early, because tuning, delivery and setup all need lead time.
Travel within Switzerland
I am based in Zug, in Central Switzerland, and perform regularly throughout the country — Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva, Basel, Lugano and everywhere in between. For events beyond Central Switzerland, reasonable transportation costs are added to the booking fee; for destination weddings and international engagements, travel and accommodation are discussed as part of the booking. Distance alone rarely decides the price, but a mountain resort with complex access is a different evening from a city hotel.
What moves the price up or down
- Duration and the number of sets you need
- Location and travel — an evening in Zug, Zürich or Lucerne differs from a mountain resort or an international venue
- Preparation — bespoke arrangements or unusual song requests take studio time
- The instrument — a venue piano in good condition, or a professional rental
- Ensemble size — adding a violinist, cellist or vocalist turns the evening into a duo or trio
How far ahead should you book?
As early as you can. For weddings in peak season, from May to September, six to twelve months ahead is the comfortable window; December is also in high demand. Shorter timelines often work when the calendar allows — it costs nothing to ask. Special song requests need around four to six weeks of notice so a proper arrangement can be prepared.
When you know the shape of your event, the simplest next step is to ask for a tailored quote via the booking page — every occasion is a little different, and the price should reflect yours.
