Born in Zürich (Switzerland), after becoming a photographer he studied the recorder in his native city with Matthias Weilenmann and at the Schola Cantorum with Conrad Steinmann. He furthured his studies in historical performance practice with Jesper Christensen and in Musicology at the University of Basel. From 1986-90 he lead the baroque orchestra "Capella Concertante" and is a member of various ensembles for old and new music including Ars Noviqua and "musik in der schräglage". Urs was an intiator of the International Days for Contemporary Recorder Music (1993 Switzerland meets eastern-Europe ;1997 incontro)