Mimoza Keka, PhD, is a classical concert pianist with interests in music performance, teaching, research, digital technologies, recording and musicology. She earned acclaim as a recitalist, chamber musician, piano accompanist and recording artist – “Her performance is distinguished by a clear and creative imagination, with a precisely crafted dynamics, articulation, rhythm and an exceptionally well-built pianistic technique…” “…Keka fascinates with her emotional and physical strength, her volcanic nature – an obvious pillar on which she overcomes Liszt’s genius artistic nature with an inexplicably easy approach…”. Her repertoire includes music from baroque to contemporary, performing a wide range of musical works. In 2022 she released her solo album Non-Fungible with music by Bach, Scriabin and Barber.

Her doctoral research ”The use of digital technologies in quantitative analysis of piano performance” received critical acclaim with critics complimenting its originality, novelty and utility as well as its remarkable interdisciplinary approach, stating that it is exemplary not only in the country but also abroad.

Her professional and personal formation has been greatly influenced by many outstanding musicians including maestra Lilya Zilberstein, obtaining a Master’s Degree (Master of Arts Diploma) under her supervision. Mimoza has launched into a successful concert career as a solo artist, with concerto appearances, solo recitals and chamber concerts. Moreover, she became member of the Association of Music Artists (SMUM). In 2022 she published her book “The use of digital technologies in quantitative analysis of piano performance” available at Amazon as well as she published her first solo album named Non-Fungible, available on all streaming platforms.

Mimoza received her PhD in Musical Arts at age 26 from the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje on her doctoral dissertation on ”The use of digital technologies in quantitative analysis of piano performance”, the premiere performance of Sonata op. 26 from Samuel Barber and premiere integral performance of ”Miroirs” from Maurice Ravel and ”In the mists” from Leoš Janáček in her country. Her doctoral research ”The use of digital technologies in quantitative analysis of piano performance” received critical acclaim with critics complimenting its originality, novelty and utility as well as its remarkable interdisciplinary approach, stating that it is exemplary not only in the country but also abroad.

Quotes

,,Keka, fascinates with the emotional and physical strength
that are obviously the strongest steam for her to deal sovereignly with the
very demanding works, this time with the imposing sonata in h-moll of the great Franz Liszt.., which she overcame with an inexplicably easy approach the ingenious artistic nature of Liszt..”

Naumova Tomovska, V. (2017)

Music Critic at the Association of Music Artists SMUM.

Skopje: Golden Lyre Festival, Music Society Press.

,,..that sublime artistic act of visible exposure of very
detailed performed music score was obvious for Mimoza Keka, she with her own artistic fanaticism conquered that grandiose Liszt’s challenge called the
terrible Sonata in h-moll, to which even more experienced piano masters do not come close because it is really too difficult to perform..”

Naumova Tomovska, V. (2017)

Music Critic at the Association of Music Artists SMUM.

Skopje: Golden Lyre Festival, Music Society Press.

“Her performance is distinguished by a clear and creative imagination, with a precisely crafted dynamics, articulation, rhythm and an exceptionally well-built pianistic technique…”

The Doctoral Committee of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius

Faculty of Music – Skopje. (2021, June 1).

Newsletter no. 1239 of UKIM PRESS

“Pianist Keka gave the audience an emotional night with her music..”

Anadolu Agency. (2023).

North Macedonian pianist Mimoza Keka gave a concert in Istanbul.

Retrieved from Anadolu Agency

Congratulations to Mimoza Keka, true orchestral artistic collaborator, for a highy professional and inspirational concert, who completely captured all the subtleties of the vocal ensemble, the combination of timbres, emotions, intonation, artistry, but also for the huge professional challenge.”

Prof. PhD Viktorija Kolarovska Gmirja

(2022, June)

Performances and projects

Mimoza has collaborated with distinguished conductors including Sasha Nikolovski-Gjumar, under whose baton she performed the Piano concerto no. 2 from Camille Saint-Saens, with appointed conductors at the Faculty of Music in Skopje with whom she has collaborated with the Chamber and Symphonic Orchestra of the Faculty for numerous projects and concerts as well as for the Opera Studio Subject (undergraduate and postgraduate studies) as an artistic collaborator. Furthermore, since 2017 she is a member of the Ensemble for contemporary music Contempora from SOKOM. Additionally, she has an active engagements playing piano duo with pianist Francesca Orlando.

Her international performances include concerts and recitals in Paris, Rome, Prague, Bristol, Milan, Trieste, Siena, Punta Ala, Sovicille, Sozopol, New York City and Istanbul.
Mimoza has performed at Concerti del Tempietto, Les dimanches musicaux, International Festival Akordeon Art Plus, at the International Francophone Festival Soleil in Sozopol, Bulgaria, Siena Summer Festival, having performed in the renowned hall of Palazzo Chigi Saracini in Siena, Italy (2015, 2016, 2017), Festival International de piano Jeunеs Talents in Montrond-les-Baines, France, as well as at the Spring Concert Season of Bristol Music Club in the United Kingdom.

Among her most important engagements in the country are her solo recitals at major music festivals including Ohrid Summer Festival, New cultural wave from the Ministry of Culture of North Macedonia, Festival Zlatna Lira/Golden Lyre in Skopje, Festival Days of Macedonian Music in Skopje, Autumnal Musical Festivities in Skopje and Musica Viva from the Faculty of Music in Skopje.

Mimoza has successfully managed several projects supporting and promoting the classical music.

In 2017 she managed classical music projects in Sozopol and Skopje, performing solo recitals and promoting the classical music and music by composers from North Macedonia, including Tomislav Zografski, supported by the Ministry of Culture of North Macedonia.
In 2018 she performed and managed her own project for the SOS Children’s Village Skopje Charity concert – AUTUMNAL FAIRYTALE.
In 2018 and 2019 she managed her project Piano&Voice, part of the manifestation New Cultural Wave, where she performed works for solo piano and piano & voice.
In 2018 she performed a piano recital in Rome, with works by F. Liszt, C. Debussy, M. Ravel as well as by composers from North Macedonia, including composer Tomislav Zografski.
In 2019, 2021 and 2022 she managed and participated in the concert series FESTIVE RHAPSODY at the Philharmonic Hall in Skopje, supported by the Ministry of Culture.
In 2019 she managed and performed in the International Concert Tour PIANO SOUND in Paris and Rome, supported by the Ministry of Culture.
In 2019 she was chosen to participate as one of the ten participants of TEME Project (Transnational European Music Entrepreneur) held in Trieste and Camerino, Italy, project approved and supported by the European Commission and part of the program Creative Europe and Music Moves Europe.
In 2022, she managed her projects in Skopje and New York, supported by the Ministry of Culture, and performed solo piano recitals promoting the classical music.
Furthermore, in 2022 she invited pianist Francesca Orlando to perform together a piano-duo tour in Skopje and Bitola.
In 2023 she was invited to perform a solo recital at Ohrid Summer Festival in Ohrid, North Macedonia, piano duo recital named “Fidan” at the Philharmonic Hall season 2022/2023 as well as to perform a solo recital at the Nazim Hikmet Culture Center in Istanbul, Turkiye,

Teaching, professional trainings and awards

Dr. Keka has served as a Piano Teacher at the State Music and Ballet School “Ilija Nikolovski-Luj” in Skopje on a fixed term from 2015 to 2017. From 2019 to 2023 she has been appointed as an artistic collaborator of Opera Studio Subject (Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies) at the Faculty of Music in Skopje.

Mimoza has also performed in a number of master classes with highly acclaimed pianists such as Alexei Volodin, Alexander Ghindin, as well as participating in professional trainings at prestigious music academies including Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy with world-renowned pianist, maestra Lilya Zilberstein from 2015 to 2017.

She has been awarded numerous national and international awards including the 2018 first prize-laureate at International competition ‘‘Akordeon Art Plus” Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 2010 second prize at International competition ‘‘Pietro Argento’’ Gioia del Colle, Italy, 2009 second prize at International competition ‘‘Giovanni Talenti’’ San Bartolomeo, Italy, 2008 second prize at International competition Nis, Serbia, as well as a five-times First Prize Winner of the North Macedonia Music State Competition.

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