Biography
Deniola Kuraja conductor, pianist, chamber musician and accompanist is undoubtedly a strong musical personality who manages to convey her ideas and knowledge about music in the most effective way.
As a conductor, she has long developed professional maturity through her position as a conductor and pianist at the Kassel state Theatre, the Hanover State Opera and as an artistic director in the National Theater of Opera and Ballet in Tirana where she has acquired an important repertoire in many genders and genres of music whose list counts more than 70 operatic titles adding symphony concerts, ballets, chamber music concerts and recital concerts as a solo pianist (recital concert as a solo pianist).
Her journey and the professionalism gained over the years in orchestral conducting began in 2010, collaborating with:
“Hildesheim City Theater(Germany), National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana as Ass/Conductor : Offenbach “The Talees of Hoffmann” , National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana as principal conductor in : Lehar “Die Lustige Witwe”, National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana: New Years Gala, the Symphony Orchestra of Albanian Radio and Television : vocal – symphony concert, Hanover University Orchestra : Kurt Weill ” Sreet Scene”, National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana : Pergolesi, Brahms ” Vocal – Instrumental Koncert, Kassel State Theatre : E.Humperdinck ” Haensel und Gretel”, Bernstein ” West Side Story, ” Candide”,S.Flaherty ” Ragtime”, E.Kalman ” Die herzogin von Chicago”, B.Britten “The Young Person Guide to the Orchestra”, C.Saint-Saens “The Carnival of the Animals”(playing and conducting),G.Rossini ” La Cenerentola”, Cole Porter ” Kiss Me,Kate”, A.Lorzting ” Der Wildschuetz”,National Theatre of Opera and ballet in Tirana :J.Strauss”Die Fledermaus” , G.Verdi ” La Traviata”, ” Un ballo in maschera”, Ballet” La Sylphide” , P.Tchaikovsky “The Nutcracker”, “Symphonie No. 9” ~ Beethoven, Symphonie Orchestra of Albanian Radio and Television :Instrumental Symphonic Concert “Moxart, Haydn and Richard Strauss”, Skopje Symphonie Orchestra (North Macedonia) : Instrumentel – Vocal Concert”.
As a pianist, Deniola Kuraja started her activity with concerts from early childhood, working as a soloist in many artistic activities.
Her excellent technique and artistic sensibility stood out in the competition for admission to the Academy of Fine Arts, evaluating her with maximum points and qualifying her as the best student.
Deniola Kuraja is the winner of the first prize in the national competition “Young Pianist”, the winner of the third prize in the “Cesk Zadeja” competition, the winner of the third prize in the “Tonin Harapi”, winner of a scholarship from the “Italian Cultural Institute” which enabled her to do a Graduated Master in Conservatorio di Musica N.Piccini in Bari (Italy).
She performed in numerous artistic events collaborating with the Orchestra of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet:
“Chopin ” Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E- Flat major, Op.22″, the Orchestra of University of Arts :Chopin, Variations on”La ci darem la mano Op.2″, the Orchestra of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet: Rachmaninoff “Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30″, the Symphonie Orchestra of Albanian Radio and Television :Chopin ” Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E- Flat major, Op.22″.
After her excellent graduation at the University of Arts she was engaged as pianist in the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana ,she collaborate as korrepetitor and assistent conducter at the Macedonanian Theatre of Opera and ballet in Skopje, and as accompanist in violin and flute class at the University of Arts.
She continued her artistic development participated in festivals,masterclasses, concert in Germany, Austria taking new impulses from very wellknown pianistic personalities as: Till Engel (Germany), Gerard Fremy (Paris), Anna Maria Stainczyck(Warschau), Michelle Campanella ( Siena), Francesco Monopoli (Bari), Manon-Liu Winter (Wien).
After 2008 she began a international career in Germany.The first station it was Hanover, where she immediately after the audition in the High school for Music, Theatre und Medien was engagend for the teaching position for the opera accompaniment and subsequently develop an excellent reputation among students and colleagues.
At the end of the winter semester 2012/2013 she also passed her exam in the major subject of orchestral conducting/opera conductor at the High school for Music,theatre und Medien with top grades. Graduated in orchestra conducting with Prof.Martin Brauss.
She continued working as a vocal coach in the High school and in Hanover State Opera as well as a pianist with conducting obligation. The artistic education ,being pianist and conductor open te her great possibilitis.
As a conductor she soon bring on stage a lot of premieres and a rich repertoire begining with Operas,Musicals,Operetas, Symphonies, and Ballets.
The Kassel State Theatre where she worked for about 8 years was the most precios laborator wich served to deepen her experience and to create the continuity of her artistic career.