Irena Josifoska

Biography

Irena Josifoska is the 1st prize winner of the Gabrielli cello competition in Berlin and as academist of the Verbier Festival winner of the prize Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich, which recognizes the Verbier Festival Academy's best young cellist. She got Honorary Mention for an excellent performance as one of the six-semifinalists at the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann, where she had recital in the hall of Berliner Philharmonie. In 2017 she was the youngest semifinalist of the Queen Elisabeth competition. In 2024 she got the Scholarship prize of the German music competition (Deutscher Musikwettbewerb) in the chambermusic category, which includes concerts organization in the season 2025/26 and Hans Gal prize from the Villa musica fondation and Academy of sciences and literature Mainz.

Irena comes from a family of musicians. She started playing the cello at the age of 5 in Novi Sad, in the class of Judit Niederholzer-Josifoska. She finished Bachelor studies at the “Hochschule für Musik” in Detmold (Germany) in the class of prof. Xenia Jankovic, Master solo studies at the „Universität der Künste“ in Berlin in the class of prof. Jens Peter Maintz, and since October 2022 she is a student of the „Konzertexamen studies“ (the highest degree in Germany) in the same class and same University. Irena was „Artist in residence“ of the „Queen Elisabeth Music Chapelle“ in Brussels for chamber-music and since september 2022 she is in the „Villa musica foundation and chamber music festival academy“.

She won many highest awards and special prizes in national and international competitions, like Dotzauer cello competition in Dresden, Herann cello competition in Czech republic, International cello competition in Liezen, Austria, Jeunesses musicales international competition in Belgrade, silver medal in Vienna international music competition, GOLDEN MEDAL with High distinction in Manhattan international music competition, Janigro competition in Zagreb, "GWK Scholarship prize" etc.
Irena is a recipient of several recognitions, like: The most promising young music artist in 2013, the prize from Society of music artists of Serbia as The best young music artist in 2015, The little prince prize in 2018.

She performed all over the Europe and USA and she was a soloist of the eminent orchestras, like Deutsche Sinfonietta Berlin, Metamorphosen Berlin, Wurttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, Hagen Symphony orchestra, NWD orchestra, Detmold chamber orchestra, Kaunas philharmony, Orchestra nazionale sinfonica, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, etc.

She was participant of the biggest festivals, like Verbier Festival Academy, Musiktage Mondsee, Paax GNP Festival in Mexico, Bebersee Festival, Fränkischer Sommer, Krzyzowa Music, Eggenfelden Klassisch, Ohrid Summer Festival, UNLTD Verbier, Vaduz Classic festival, Festival in Rügen, SONC festival, Kronberg Academy Masterclasses, Rutesheim Cello Akademie, Liechteinstein Musikakademie, ISA-International summer academy, Crescendo festival Berlin, Moritzburg Festival Academy (1st prize of audience), Sumito Switzerland, Hohenstaufen chamber music festival, Nitzow chamber music festival, Ljubljana Festival, Music Forum in Trenta, Slovenia held by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.

Irena recorded two CDs, one for „A-records“ (Sweden), another one for „Art-link“ and „Societe generale bank“. In october this year NEW RELEASE of the solo CD "Cogitationes".
She also plays a barock cello , with in September 2019 she recorded a CD with the „VOX barock ensemble“ for „Sony“.
Irena was part of the production "Christmas in Berlin" - STAGE+ with Deutsche Grammophon and Albrecht Mayer.

Josifoska was „Thomastik Infeld artist“, was the scholarship holder of „Deutschland Stipendium“ and of „Ad infinitum and DAAD“ foundation.

Irena worked with prof. David Geringas, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Miklos Perenyi, Claudio Bohorquez, Wenn Sin Yang, Marc Coppey, Christian Poltera, Daniel Müller Schott, etc. She played chamber-music with Guy Braunstein, Daniel Stabrawa, Jens Peter Maintz, Albrecht Mayer, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Sacha Rattle, Boris Garlitsky, Roman Simovic, Vadim Gluzman, Vlatko Stefanovski, Gabriel Prokofiev, Yeol Eum Son, Svetlin Roussev, Maria-Elisabeth Lott, Sophia Jaffé, Lisa Schatzman, Gili Schwarzman, Andrea Lieberknecht, Dag Jensen, Marie-Luise Neunecker, Gregor Sigl, Auryn quartett and she worked with Artemis Quartett, Corina Belcea, Mihaela Martin, Gabor Takacs Nagy, Matheu Herzog, Ivry Gitlis, Heinrich Schiff, Helmuth Rilling, Kent Nagano etc.

Composers Dejan Despic, S.S.Kovacevic, Aleksandar Vujic, Tibor Hartig and Günter Puzberg dedicated their compositions to Irena.

Irena plays as a guest in Karajan Academy of Berliner Philharmonie chambermusic concerts and she is a guest solo-cellist of Kammerakademie Potsdam, Camerata Salzburg, Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin, Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie, Detmolder chamber-orchestra, Munich radio-orchestra and she is permanent substitution in Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin.

She got on loan from Villa musica foundation a cello William Forster Senior 1790.

Words of musicians:

“Irena is one of rare cellists, where from her confident coming to the stage, her instrumental virtuosity, her expressiveness and her whole personality I was tied up. Among big number of great cellists nowadays, she is above almost everybody, because of what she can, because of her expressivity and exceptional taste for musical styles.”
Götz Teutsch, solo-cellist of "Berlin philharmonic", 2022

“Irena Josifoska is one mature and experienced musician. Her interpretations are very thoughtful, her technique is brilliant, her sound clean and singing, round and beautiful. On stage Irena impresses with her chamber-musical agility and wonderful expressiveness as well through her extinguished artistic personality.”
The jury of "GWK Förderung", 2022

“Irena is for sure one of the most gifted musicians I met in my career. Her enthusiasm transports the music directly to the heart of her audience and her stunning technique, her variable, warm and brilliant tone and her virtuosity leave the listener stunned and grateful.”
Florian Ludwig, conductor, 2021

“Irena is an exceptionally expressive musician, her technical abilities are of a high level and she has a very good sense for expressing different styles and colours in music.”
Xenia Jankovic, cellist, 2021

“It is unbelievable how someone can experience and convey all the sung and painful legato in Faure’s “Elegie” without having oneself suffered greatly and not having a wounded soul.”
G. Krajacic, 2009

”Contact with Irena Josifoska gave the audience moments of true joy in the beauty of music and a soaring performance which captivated with its genuine liveliness and unusual maturity of expression.”
B. Hlozan, 2011

“Each generation has its own aces and in the present one it is certainly Irena Josifoska.This child is talked about and has great prospects. ”
B. Radović, 2010

“Irenas determination, playing impulse, attitude, looks, dominance over the “musical matter“ and as always, such a striking fusion between the artist and instrument, left a huge impression...”
M. Adamov, 2013

Schedule

2025

15th - 18th of January:
Solo cello Kammerakademie Potsdam
3rd - 9th of March:
VOX barock ensemble

CD Recording
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
24th - 31st of March:
Chambermusic Project with Frans Helmerson and Mihaela Martin
"Villa musica"

Location: Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
5th - 10th of May:
Tonhain Kollektiv Berlin

7 Celli with Jens Peter Maintz
29th of June - 4th of July:
Classeek week in Switzerland
26th of July - 3rd of August:
Eole en musiques festival

Paimboeuf, France
7th - 9th of August:
Celler Sommerkonzerte
With Roman Simovic, Milena Simovic, Jung Eun Severine Kim

Location: Germany

2024

12th-17th of January:
guest Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin
24th - 28th of January:
Guest Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin and Kent Nagano

Location: Berliner Philharmonie
2nd - 8th of February:
Solo cello of UdK Orchestra Berlin
11th-19th of February:
Villa musica

Four chambermusic concerts with Svetlin Roussev, Yeol Eum Son, Claudio Laureti and Albina Khaibullina
Programme: Brahms, Dvorak
15.02.: Kaiserlautern, Germany
16.02.:Herdorf, Germany
17.02.:Mainz, Germany
18.02.:Remagen, Germany
22nd of February:
Chinese event
Duo with David Tobin, violin

Programme: Gliere, Handel-Halvorsen
Location: Berlin, Germany
23rd of February:
Sven Helbig
Quartett concert

Location: Rathenow, Germany
24th of February:
Recital: Viktor Soos, piano

Location: Piano Salon Christophori Berlin, Germany
6th of March:
Piano quartett concert

Location: Piano Salon Christophori Berlin, Germany
19th - 23rd of March:
DMW competition, semifinale
Piano quartett concert

Location: Bonn, Germany
26th of March - 1st of April:
Chambermusic project with Roman Simovic

Location: Villa musica, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Programme: Turina, Schumann, Weber, Erkin, Saint-Saens
30.03.: Mainz, Germany
31.03.: Schloss Engers, Germany
01.04.: Kobern-Gondorf, Germany
7th of April:
Detmolder Chamber orchestra
Solo cello, with Albrecht Menzel

Location: Beckum, Germany
14th of April:
Concert with Guy Braunstein, Gili Schwarzman and Ulrich Knörzer

Programme: Ravel, Mozart, Brahms
Location: Berlin, Germany
15th - 22nd of April:
All Beethoven Sonatas for piano and cello in two evenings + Solo cello evening

18th of April: Solo cello evening, "In C-Minor"
20th and 21st of April: Beethoven
Location: Hafenpreppach, Germany
28th of April:
Chambermusic concert with Miriam Helms Alien, Lana Suran, Maria Winiarski

Programme: Schumann, Stenhammar
Location: Swedish Church, Berlin
7th - 12th of May:
Bach "Musikalisches Opfer" with Michael Borgstede

Catholic Church in Rheinböllen
14th - 19th of May:
Hohenstaufen Chambermusic Festival

Location: Hohenstaufen, Germany
21st of May:
Recital with Viktor Soos, piano

Programme: Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofiev
Location: Schloss Engers, Germany
2nd of June:
Crescendo Festival Berlin

Chambermusic concert with Mark Gothoni, Janne Saksala, Jörg Walter, Markus Groh and Gottlieb Wallisch
3rd and 5th of June:
Recitals with Viktor Soos, piano

Programme: Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofiev
Location: Schloss Engers, Germany
7th of June:
Jazz und Classic

Location: Holzminden, Germany
8th of June:
Chambermusic concert with Boris Garlitsky
17th - 19th of June:
Lebensmelodien Ensemble

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
23th of June:
"Stars of tomorrow"
With Daniel Stabrawa

Location: Schloss Corvey
26th - 29th of June:
NEO Festival

Location: Novi Sad, Serbia
28th of June:
Solo with "Camerata Novi Sad" and Alexander Sitkovetsky

Programme: C.P.E.Bach: Concerto in A-major
29th of June:
Chambermusic concert

Programme: Schumann and Tchaikovsky
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia
7th of July:
Chambermusic concert with Anette Unger, Friedemann Slencska, Edgar Wiersocki

Programme: Mozart, Rossini, Mendelssohn
Location: Dresden, Germany
9th - 12th of July:
Solo Cello Kammerakademie Potsdam
27th of July - 4th of August:
Éole en Musiques festival

Location: Paimboeuf, France
9th and 10th of August:
Verbier Festival in Italy with Gabriel Prokofiev

Location: Italy
21st - 24th of August:
Carneval of Animals Saint Saens

Vaduz Classic Festival
Location: Liechtenstein
25th of August - 1st of September:
Chambermusic festival

Location: Rügen, Germany
4th of September:
Concert in Berlin

Programme of the festival in Rügen
11th - 14th of September:
Solo Cello Kammerakademie Potsdam
22nd of September:
Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin Solo Cello

Location: Philharmonie Berlin
23rd - 30th of September:
SONC chambermusic Festival

Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
13th of October:
Dvorak cello concerto

Location: Stourbridge, UK
16th of October:
Recital

Michael Cohen Weißert, piano
Location: Piano Salon Christophori, Berlin
19th - 25th of October: New CD promotions

Location: Serbia
1st of November: KonzertLEBEN
with Marcel Mok, Victoria Wong, Miguel Erlich

Location: St. Marienkirche Bergen, Rügen, Germany
2nd of November: KonzertLEBEN
with Marcel Mok, Victoria Wong, Miguel Erlich

Location: Theater Putbus, Rügen, Germany
19th of November:
Haydn D-major Cello Concerto

Conductor: Daniel Stabrawa
Orchestra: Detmolder Chamber Orchestra
70 Years of Detmolder Chamber Orchestra and opening concert of the season
Location: Konzerthaus, Detmold, Germany
26th of November:
Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin Solo Cello

Location: Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
2th - 8th of December:
Villa Musica

Vivaldi concertos and sonatas with Jens Peter Maintz
13th of December:
Prize winners concert of "Hans Gal Prize"

Location: Mainz, Germany
15th of December:
Classic meets Jazz
With Benyamin Nuss, Miguel Erlich, Ines Marques

Location: Lemgo, Germany
18th of December:
KonzertLEBEN
With Marcel Mok, Victoria Wong, Miguel Erlich

Location: Berlin, Germany
30th of December:
Chambermusic evening
With Martin Moriarty, Michael Cohen Weißert, Pablo Schatzmann

Location: Piano Salon Christophori, Berlin

2023

16th of January:
Celebration of the 90th birthday of Bernhard Vogel, the longest prime-minister in Germany

Programme: J.S.Bach
Location: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Berlin
3rd - 6th of February:
Alexander Sitkovetsky
Detmolder chamber orchestra

Programme: Tchaikovsky: "Souvenir de Florence"
Location: Konzerthaus Detmold, Germany
14th - 17th of February:
Chambermusic concert with Sonc, Crawford, Molaeb
SUMITO Cultural association

Programme: Britten, Barber, Bridge
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
26th of February:
Recital with the pianist Han-Wen Jennifer Yu

Programme: Schnittke, Boulanger, Britten
Location: "Palais Lichtenau" Potsdam, Germany
9th - 10th of March:
R G Niederhoffer Events

Programme: Bach 1st and 3rd cello solo suites
9th of March - Location: Zürich
10th of March - Location: Geneva
4th - 10th of April:
"Villa musica"
Chambermusic concerts with Guy Braunstein

Programme: Ravel, Strauss, Beethoven, Wolf, Mozart
Location: Germany
21st - 24th of April:
Schönberg, Lutoslawski with Daniel Stabrawa

Location: Detmold, Germany
26th of April:
Recital with the pianist Han-Wen Jennifer Yu

Programme: Schnittke, Boulanger, Britten
Location: Salon "Christophori" Berlin, Germany
29th of April:
Recording with Paolo Bonomini

Location: Berlin, Germany
2nd of May:
Recording of a modern piece by Logan Strosahl

Location: Berlin, Germany
15th - 20th of May:
Chambermusic concerts with Vadim Gluzman

Programme: Boccherini, Tchaikovsky
20th - 22nd of May:
Solo cello of "Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin"

Conductor: Catherine Larsen-Maguire
Location: "Philharmonie Berlin", Germany
15th of June:
House-concert Berlin, Germany

Brahms piano trio B-major
25th of June - 9th of July:
Festival Paax GNP

Location: Mexico
9th - 16th of July:
Schloss Tambach Summer Festival
14th of July:
Recital
Sae Yoon Chon, piano

Programme: Beethoven, Chopin, Boulanger
15th of July:
Trio concert
Mathilde Milwidsky, violin
Sae Yoon Chon, piano
16th of July:
Festival "Fränkischer Sommer"

Programme: J.S.Bach Solo Cello Suites
Location: "Schloss Dennenlohe", Germany
26th - 29th of July:
Nitzow chamber-music festival

Location: Nitzow, Germany
30th of July - 6th of August:
"Éole en Musiques" festival

Location: Paimbœuf, France
21st - 27th of August:
Bebersee chambermusic festival

Location: Bebersee, Germany
3rd of September:
Dvorak "American quartett"
"Quartett Josifoski"

Location: Belgrade, Serbia
15th of September:
Bach Gamba Sonata No.1 in G-Major
with Michael Cohen-Weißert

Location: Koblenz, Germany
22nd - 24th of September:
DKO Berlin
Project with Omar Massa

Location: Berlin Philharmonie
29th of September:
Recital
Vita Kan, piano

Programme: Bach, Boulanger, Debussy, Strauss, Piazzolla
Location: "Piano salon Christophori", Berlin
5th, 6th and 26th of October:
Recitals
Vita Kan, piano
"Villa musica"

Location: Schloß Engers, Germany
13th of October:
Kladow, Berlin

Programme: Dall`Abaco Capriccios for solo cello
16th - 21st of October:
Chambermusic project with "Witkowski piano duo"

Schumann and Dohnányi piano quintetts
Location: Villa musica, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
13th of November:
"Quartett Josifoski"

Chamber-music concert
Location: Galery "SANU", Belgrade, Serbia
20th - 23rd of November:
guest Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin

Location: Philharmonie Berlin
22th of November:
Trio concert

Location: Piano salon Christophori, Berlin
24th - 25th of November:
Solo cello with "Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin"

Location: Philharmonie Berlin
December:
CD Recording

Location: Serbia
5th of December:
Carte blanché concert in the "Philharmonie Berlin"

Mozart flute quartett with Alberto Navarra
30th of December:
"Highlights of Classical music"

Location: Liechtenstein

2022

2nd of February:
Shostakovich 2nd cello concerto

"Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra"
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia
1st and 2nd of April:
GWK Competition

Location: Münster, Germany
24th of April:
Tchaikovsky: Rococo variations

Location: Kaunitz, Germany
6th - 10th of May:
Solo cello of "Camerata Salzburg"

Location: Oviedo, Spain
6th - 10th of July:
"Nitzow Chamber Music festival"

Location: Nitzow, Germany
10th of July - 1st of August:
Verbier Festival Academy

Location: Verbier, Switzerland
13th of August:
"Ohrid Summer Festival"- recital with the pianist Aleksandar Djermanovic

Programme: Rachmaninoff, Medtner, Piazzolla, Schumann
Location: Ohrid, North Macedonia
21st of August - 4th of September:
Krzyzowa Chambermusic Festival

Location: Krzyzowa, Poland
18th of September:
Festival "Tisin cvet", recital with the pianist Ivan Basic
Receiving the prize "Aleksandar Vujic"

Programme: Shostakovich, Beethoven, Vujic
Location: Novi Knezevac, Serbia
25th of September - 2nd of October:
Kronberg Academy Masterclasses

Location: Kronberg, Germany
10th of November:
Recital with the pianist Naoko Sonoda

Programme: Beethoven, Britten, Dvorak, Widmann, Arensky
Location: "Club Blau Weiß" Berlin, Germany
13th of November:
"GWK" winners concert

Location: Münster, Germany
16th - 22nd of November:
"Feuermann competition" Berlin

(12 participants invited after the first round)
28th of November - 5th of December:
"Villa musica" project

Concerts in Germany:
02.12. Trier,
03.12. Mainz,
04.12. Neuwied-Engers
9th - 11th of December:
"Christmas in Berlin" with Albrecht Mayer and "Deutsche Grammophon" - recording

Release: 23rd of December
17th of December:
Schubert "Trout quintett"

Location: Zürich, Switzerland