Born and raised in Korce, Albania, Jonida Lazellari, began her piano studies at the age of 6 and later moved to the capital Tirana to attend the Artistic Lyceum “Jordan Misja”. She holds a bachelor degree in Piano from University of Arts in Tirana and a master degree from Syracuse University with a full scholarship. She is a versatile musician who has worked professionally as a solo pianist, piano collaborator and répétiteur. Currently, Jonida is pursuing her Doctorate in Music- Piano Performance at Penn State University where she is studying with Dr. Kristin Stephenson.
Jonida has been frequently invited in well-renowned festivals such as: Pianodrom Festival , EPTA Albania, Brass Festival, the Festival of Young Composers “Remusica”, Valletta International Piano Festival, European Summer Music Festival in Pristina-Kosovo. During her studies in Syracuse, NY, she was an active collaborative pianist at Setnor School of Music.
Jonida has been the recipient of the 2019 and 2020 Hira Poncha Endowed Music Award in Piano for excellence in Piano Performance. She has also received the VPA Graduate Memorial Scholarship&Fellowship and Albania- Sur-Place Scholarship from German Association in Albania. Jonida has outreach concert at The Nottingham Retirement Community, at Civic Morning Musicals Wednesday Recital in Syracuse (NY), Music Hall at Penn State University.
You can find Jonida’s 2023 Contemporary Music Competition piano performance here.