Long Biography

 

Described as having “brilliant insight and extreme musicality” by John Terauds, former classical music writer of the Toronto Star, emerging Canadian pianist Elina Kelebeev is becoming widely known as a soloist and the “go to” collaborative pianist on the circuit. Elina has collaborated with established vocalists such as renowned Canadian baritone Russell Braun and Ukrainian soprano Anna Shafajinskaya; she has also teamed up with rising stars such as soprano Teiya Kasahara and bass-baritone Philippe Sly.

 

Elina also regularly performs with Toronto Symphony Orchestra violinist Arkady Yanivker, and has performed at the Music Niagara festival with artists such as the Glenn Gould Quartet and Toronto Symphony flautist Camille Watts. Her solo engagements include recitals and performances (appearances) on stages such as the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto Centre for the Arts; Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre of the Canadian Opera Company; and Rose Theatre with the Brampton Symphony Orchestra. Internationally, Elina has performed in New York City – Steinway Hall and Merkin Hall; Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory; the Brussels Conservatory in Belgium; and Italy’s Teatro Ariston di Sanremo.

 

Elina has attended such festivals as Verbier Academy in Switzerland, Sergei Babayan International Piano Festival in Cleveland. Her awards include the CBC Galaxie Award at the Orford Arts Centre, and in 2004, her performance at the International Klaviersommer Festiva in Bad Bertrich, Germany, earned her the Audience Prize. Previously (1995) she was a laureate of the Chopin International Competition in Gottingen, Germany.

 

Elina Kelebeev received her Master’s Degree in Performance, Collaborative Piano, at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. She studied under the direction of Professor Michael McMahon. She also studied at the Moscow Central Music School, the Manhattan School of Music, and The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music. Her main teachers were Alexander Mndayants, Arkady Aronov and John Perry. Elina has also participated in masterclasses for Vladimir Feltsman, Sergei Babayan and Andre Laplante.

 

Elina Kelebeev is currently staff accompanist at the University Of Toronto since 2010, and at the Royal Conservatory of Music since 2005. She also maintains a private studio where she teachers piano and coaches singers.

 

 

(November, 2012)

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