Olsi Leka

Olsi Leka was born in Tirana (Albania) in 1980. He started studying the cello at the age of 6. During his studies, he twice obtained the first prize at the "Young Virtuosi" competition (junior and senior categories), the first prize at the "Lyons Club Interpretation Competition" in Belgium and the second prize at the "International Music Competition" in Cyprus.

Aged 24, during his last year at the conservatory, he was appointed Cello Solo – First Cellist at the National Orchestra of Belgium. This allowed him to work with a multitude of conductors and soloists of international renown. Since then, he performed at chamber music events and festivals such as "Schiermonnikoog Festival" in Netherlands, the "Different trains Festival" in Albania, the "Gjövig Musicfest" in Norway and the "Excellent Concerts" in the Netherlands, and performed in recitals with the pianists Daniel Blumenthal, Alexandar Madzar, François-René Duchable, Adam Laloum, Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort, Desar Sulejmani and Peter Caelen.

The interpretation of the concerto "Tout un monde lointain..." by the French composer Henri Dutilleux was another career highlight. After preparation of the work with the composer, it was played and recorded live in Brussels in his presence. The composer said it was one of the best interpretations he had ever heard.

In 2007 he was appointed cello professor at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, and in 2015 at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. He is regularly invited for cello master classes around the world and plays an exceptional cello of the famous violin maker Raffaele Gagliano, generously made available to him by the Eric Feldbusch Foundation.

Media:
Olsi Leka performing Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch backed by the National Orchestra of Belgium conducted by David Reiland
Source: YouTube

Summer Festival Antwerp 2022

Olsi Leka will give cello master classes and will be a jury member of the International Young Talent Music Competition.

Master Classes:
You can apply for a 6-day period (fulltime) or a 3-day period (halftime), which cost 600€ and 300€ respectively.  The application fee is 50€.

Music Competition:
Subscribers of the Master Classes may also subscribe to the Young Talent Music Competition.  The application fee for the Music Competition is 100€.

Click here to subscribe
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