• Most Respected Classical Music Platform
  • #classicalForever
TOP

New York-Based Violinist and Composer Elektra Kurtis has Died

A founder of the world jazz collective, Ensemble Elektra, Kurtis passed away from brain cancer after struggling with the condition for four years

 

Originally of Greek heritage, Kurtis grew up in Warsaw, and later relocated to Helsinki for a period of study at the Sibelius Academy of Music. She eventually made New York her home.

Kurtis was equally at home in a number of different musical styles, including jazz, Cuban music, and Arabic music — often incorporating these genres into her compositions. She was also committed to improvisation and made a point of utilizing this technique in her music.

As a violinist she was much in demand, performing throughout the USA, Europe, and Finland. Her Ensemble Elektra recorded four albums together between 2000 and 2015.

She worked with the Warsaw Grand Opera Orchestra, "Yia Sou" (an improvisational World Music group), Brooklyn Philharmonics, New England Symphonic Ensemble, and Harlem Festival Orchestra, and more.

She was diagnosed with Level Four Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and will be remembered as a highly creative and thoughtful musician.

"She was a consummate ensemble player, committed to the music and to our community," wrote Stephen Haynes, one of Kurtis's colleagues in the Go: Organic Orchestra. "She was passionate — you could hear this in her laughter and her playing, see it in her steady work as an organizer. And she was a nurturer — as a mother and with her friends and creative colleagues. I can’t get used to speaking of Elektra in the past tense!"

Our condolences to Kurtis's family, friends, and colleagues.

Family members have organized an online condolences board, which you can view or contribute to, here.

upcoming events

march 2024

16marAll Day20Music Teachers National Association National Conference(All Day) The Westin Peachtree Plaza, 210 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303Event Type :conferences & tradeshows Event Tagschamber music,Chamber Music America,Conferences,Music Teachers National Association National ConferenceFOLLOW

17marAll Day21Tokyo Classic Violin Competition(All Day) Tokyo University of the Arts, 12-8 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8714, JapanEvent Type :competitions Event TagsClassic Violin Olympus International Competition,violin competitionFOLLOW

20marAll Day23American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Conference(All Day) Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202Event Type :conferences & tradeshows Event TagsAmerican String Teachers Association,American String Teachers Association National Conference,ASTA,conferenceFOLLOW

april 2024

01aprAll Day05Vienna Classic Violin Competition(All Day) Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, Johannesgasse 4a 1010 Vienna, AustriaEvent Type :competitions Event TagsClassic Violin Olympus International Competition,violin competitionFOLLOW

23aprAll Day26Lyon International Chamber Music Competition(All Day) Université Lumière Lyon 2, 18 quai Claude Bernard 69365 Lyon, FranceEvent Type :competitions Event Tagschamber music,chamber music competition,Lyon International Chamber Music CompetitionFOLLOW

CONTACT US
x

Get ALL our latest conveniently by EMAIL

Our newsletter is trusted by over 100,000+ industry professionals around the world

We deliver news straight to your inbox and will never share your data.
You'll never miss a beat!

click left click right