Violinist Peter Zelienka has Passed Away

Zelienka was a valued member of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1993 

Born in Slovakia, Peter Zelienka studied violin, chamber music, and conducting at the Prague State Conservatory. 

In 1982, he emigrated to Germany to study at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, where he studied with Edith Peinemann, Ida Bieler (violin), and Dušan Pandula (chamber music). 

It was with Pandula that he founded the Hába Quartet in 1984, in which he played as the violist since 1999. From 1988, Zelienka also served as a musician and organizer of the Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) broadcasting company. 

From 1995 to 2002, Zelienka was a member of the Ensemble Phorminx, where he performed across Europe and Asia, and participated in many world premieres and recordings for radio stations and record companies. 

In 1993 he joined the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (hr-Sinfonieorchester) as a first violinist. He also organized the orchestra’s chamber music series for over 20 years.

It was only yesterday that Zelienka was scheduled to perform at a hr-Sinfonieorchester concert series at the Frankfurt Städel Museum. 

“On Saturday night, our friend and colleague Peter Zelienka passed away,” hr-Sinfonieorchester wrote on Facebook. “The evening before, he had played with us at the Old Opera and yesterday he wanted to participate in our walking concert at the Städel Museum. 

“Peter has been a central member of the violin group for decades,” they continued. “And he was also the heart of our chamber music activities and the soul of the orchestral academy of the HR Symphony Orchestra. Above all, he was a friend and a great human being. We are all affected and sad beyond words and can’t believe it. He leaves a big void that will remain.”

In memory of Zelienka, the orchestra also posted a video of him performing with the Hába Quartet (featuring current and former hr-Sinfonieorchester members) in a digital concert during the 2021 pandemic lockdowns. 

“Rest in Peace dear Peter,” conductor Paavo Järvi wrote on Instagram.

Our condolences to Mr. Zelienka’s family, friends, and colleagues.