Biography
Irena Josifoska is an award-winning cellist active as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. She is a First Prize winner of the Gabrielli International Cello Competition in Berlin and recipient of the Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich at the Verbier Festival Academy, awarded to its most outstanding young cellist. She also received the STAR Prize of the Villa Musica Foundation, an Honorary Mention at the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann, performing at the Berliner Philharmonie, and the Prize for Achievements of the Liechtenstein Musikakademie. In 2017, she was the youngest semifinalist of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
In 2024, Josifoska was awarded the Scholarship Prize of the German Music Competition (Deutscher Musikwettbewerb) in chamber music, including concert engagements for the 2025/26 season, as well as the Hans Gál Prize. In 2025, she joined the Peter Cornelius Conservatory in Mainz as a professor with her own cello class, the department of academic studies, and became a co-artistic director of the Inspirimus Chamber Music Festival in Germany.
She completed her Bachelor's degree at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold with Prof. Xenia Jankovic, followed by Master Solo Studies at the Universität der Künste Berlin with Prof. Jens Peter Maintz. Since October 2022, she has been pursuing the prestigious Konzertexamen, the highest academic degree in Germany, in the same class. She was an Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels and has been a member of the Villa Musica Foundation and Academy since 2022.
Irena received very important input during her development from Frans Helmerson, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Miklós Perényi, David Geringas, Steven Isserlis, Wen-Sinn Yang, and many others.
She has performed throughout Europe, Mexico, and the USA as a soloist with renowned orchestras and at major festivals including Verbier, Berliner Festspiele, Bayreuth, Kronberg Academy, Ohrid Summer Festival, Fränkischer Sommer, La Folle Journée, GNP Festival, the Moritzburg Festival Academy, and many others, collaborating with artists such as Guy Braunstein, Sharon Kam, Vadim Gluzman, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Roman Simović, Yeol Eum Son, and others.
Josifoska records for GENUIN, SWR, and Deutsche Grammophon (STAGE+).
As a passionate Baroque musician, Irena also plays Baroque cello, has recorded for Sony Classical with Baroque ensembles, and has collaborated with Dorothee Oberlinger, Mayumi Hirasaki, and others.
She plays a William Forster Senior cello (1790) on loan from Villa Musica.
Articles
- The Strad News - Cellist Irena Josifoska wins 2025 Villa Musica Star Award | The Strad- Cellist Irena Josifoska Named as Recipient of 2025 Villa Musica Star Award | The Violin Channel
- Rezension Irena Josifoska - Cogitationes | concerti.de
Words of musicians:
“She is one of the most fascinating musical personalities I have encountered. This young cellist possesses outstanding musical awareness, flawless technique, and a highly convincing artistic personality. Her playing reveals remarkable depth and a distinctive, subtly introspective approach to shaping musical phrases.”
“Irena is one of those rare cellists whose confident stage presence, instrumental virtuosity, expressiveness, and overall personality immediately captivate the listener. Among the many excellent cellists of today, she stands above almost all others — because of her abilities, her expressive power, and her exceptional stylistic taste.”
“Irena is an extremely agile and versatile musician. She adapts effortlessly to any stylistic context: from historically informed Baroque performance to the gentle romanticism of Schubert and Schumann, as well as the powerful, resonant sound world of the sonata repertoire. She radiates a great deal of positive energy and embodies true team spirit. For me, she is the ideal recipient of the Villa Musica Star Award.”
“In my opinion, one of the most outstanding cellists of her generation.”
“Irena Josifoska is a mature and experienced musician. Her interpretations are deeply thoughtful, her technique is brilliant, and her sound is clean, singing, rounded, and beautiful. On stage, she impresses with her chamber-music sensitivity, wonderful expressiveness, and her highly refined artistic personality.”
“Irena is certainly one of the most gifted musicians I have encountered in my career. Her enthusiasm conveys the music directly to the hearts of her audience, and her stunning technique, versatile, warm, and brilliant tone, and her virtuosity leave the listener both amazed and grateful.”
“Irena is an exceptionally expressive musician with a very high technical level and a remarkable sense for conveying different styles and colours in music.”
Schedule
-
7th of January:
Bayreuther
with Confringo piano quartettProgramme: Strauss, Schumann
Location: Bayreuth, Germany -
13th of January:
Recital
with Michael Cohen WeißertProgramme: Chopin
Location: Piano salon Christophori, Berlin -
22nd - 31st of January:
Deutscher Musikwettbewerb Tour22nd of January: Weißenburg
24th of January: Schwäbisch Gmünd
30th of January: Töging
31st of January: Gilching -
28th and 29th of January:
La folle journée Festivalwith Matilda Lloyd, Wong, Erlich
Location: Nantes, France -
19th of February:
Deutscher Musikwettbewerb Tour, Düren -
1st - 29th of March:
Deutscher Musikwettbewerb Tour1st of March: Dessau
11th of March: Bad Homburg
15th of March: Schloss Salder
29th of March: Bad Münstereifel -
14th - 19th of April:
Cello OctetThree concerts with Eggenfelden Klassisch Festival and BMW
-
21st and 22nd of April:
Confringo piano quartettLocation: Frankfurt, Germany
-
23rd - 26th of April:
Festival
with Moriarty, Cohen Weißert, SchatzmannLocation: Saint Brevin, France
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17th of May:
Lebensmelodien ensemble concertLocation: Berlin, Germany
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18th - 24th of May:
Hohenstaufen chambermusic festivalLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
28th of May:
Confringo piano quartettLocation: NDR Hannover
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4th of June:
Confringo KlavierquartettLocation: Winsen, Germany
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7th of June:
Crescendo Festival BerlinLocation: Berlin, Germany
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10th - 15th of June:
Elgar Cello ConcertoLocation: Algarve, Portugal
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21st of June:
Beethoven triple concertoLocation: Novi Sad, Serbia
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27th of June:
Confringo KlavierquartettLocation: Hanover, Germany
-
3rd of July:
Lebensmelodien ensembleTrio concert
Location: Jewish Museum Franconia, Germany -
4th of July:
Villa musica Star and friendsRheinvokal festival
Italian barock-programme concert
Location: Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany -
10th of July:
Styriarte Festival GrazBirgit Minichmayr and Confringo Klavierquartett
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13th - 19th of July:
Chambermusic Festival InspirimusLocation: Schwielowsee, Germany
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15th - 18th of January:
Solo cello Kammerakademie PotsdamLocation: Potsdam, Germany
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24th - 28th of January:
Chambermusic with members of Kammerakademie PotsdamLocation: Potsdam, Germany
-
8th of February:
Concert of current and former students of Xenia Jankovic, for her retirementLocation: Detmold, Germany
-
10th - 14th of February:
Concert in Klosters, Switzerland
With Sonc, Molaeb -
16th - 23rd of February:
Teaching masterclass in Novi Sad, Serbia -
3rd - 9th of March:
VOX barock ensembleCD Recording
Location: Lugano, Switzerland -
24th - 31st of March:
Chambermusic Project with Frans Helmerson and Mihaela Martin
"Villa musica"Location: Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
-
7th - 8th of April:
Classeek Music in "Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel"Location: Brussels, Belgium
-
18th - 20th of April:
SWR CD RECORDING
With Kim, Sussmann, SoosLocation: Stuttgart, Germany
-
27th of April - 1st of May:
MOSEL FESTIVAL
With Braunstein, Friedländer, Berthaud, Rilling, SteffensLocation: Germany
-
5th - 10th of May:
Tonhain Kollektiv BerlinBoulez 7 celli
-
30th of May:
Crescendo Festival Berlin
with Petersen, Groh, Chastain, SaksalaLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
4th - 10th of June:
Hohenstaufen chambermusic festivalLocation: Hohenstaufen, Germany
-
22nd of June:
Recital with Viktor SoosLocation: Graftschaft Holzweiler, Villa Bellestate, Germany
-
4th - 13th of July:
SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN FESTIVAL in corporation with MUSETHICA
with Levitan, Handler -
26th of July - 3rd of August:
Eole en musiques festivalPaimboeuf, France
-
7th - 9th of August:
Celler Sommerkonzerte
With Roman Simovic, Milena Simovic, Jung Eun Severine KimLocation: Germany
-
10th of August:
Burgen Klassik FestivalProgramme: Vivaldi Sonatas
-
13th - 23rd of August:
CD recording for "Jugend komponiert"
With Kim, SoosLocation: Germany
-
23rd - 31st of August:
Festival in Rügen, Germany
With Wong, Mok, Isaacs, Kits, Soulez Lariviere, Scheucher -
6th of September:
Tonhain Kollektiv cello quartett concertLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
7th of September:
STERN PRIZE WINNER RECITALLocation: Mainz, Germany
-
15th - 18th of September:
Festival Klassiek acther de DuinenLocation: The Hague, Netherlands
-
21st of September:
Chambermusic hall of "Philharmonie Berlin"
Berliner Festspiele
With Sharon Kam, Friedländer, GartemannLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
7th of October:
DMW tour with Zoria trioLocation: Bremervörde, Germany
-
11th of October:
Chambermusic concert
with Lloyd, Soulez LarivierewLocation: Rome, Italy
-
17th - 19th of October:
HANS GÁL Prize winners concertsLocation: Villa musica, Rheinland-pfalz, Germany
-
25th of October:
DMW tour
with Kim, Sussmann, SoosLocation: Tegernsee, Germany
-
28th of October:
SOMUS festival
Concert with Xenia JankovicLocation: Sombor, Serbia
-
7th of November:
DMW tour
with Soos, KufferLocation: Glattbach, Germany
-
12th of November:
DMW tour
with Soos, KufferLocation: Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany
-
17th - 24th of November:
Three concerts with Dorothee Oberlinger
Villa MusicaLocation: Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
-
30th of November:
Two concerts
KonzertLEBEN
with Wong, Scheucher, MokProgramme: Beethoven, Ravel
Location: Berlin, Germany -
1st - 14th of December:
Tour with Ervis Gega and Villa MusicaLocation: Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
-
21st of December:
Recital with Francois LambertProgramme: Brahms, Debussy, Schumann
Location: Berlin, Germany
-
12th-17th of January:
guest Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin -
24th - 28th of January:
Guest Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin and Kent NaganoLocation: Berliner Philharmonie
-
2nd - 8th of February:
Solo cello of UdK Orchestra Berlin -
11th-19th of February:
Villa musicaFour 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, violinProgramme: Gliere, Handel-Halvorsen
Location: Berlin, Germany -
23rd of February:
Sven Helbig
Quartett concertLocation: Rathenow, Germany
-
24th of February:
Recital: Viktor Soos, pianoLocation: Piano Salon Christophori Berlin, Germany
-
6th of March:
Piano quartett concertLocation: Piano Salon Christophori Berlin, Germany
-
19th - 23rd of March:
DMW competition, semifinale
Piano quartett concertLocation: Bonn, Germany
-
26th of March - 1st of April:
Chambermusic project with Roman SimovicLocation: 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 MenzelLocation: Beckum, Germany
-
14th of April:
Concert with Guy Braunstein, Gili Schwarzman and Ulrich KnörzerProgramme: Ravel, Mozart, Brahms
Location: Berlin, Germany -
15th - 22nd of April:
All Beethoven Sonatas for piano and cello in two evenings + Solo cello evening18th 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 WiniarskiProgramme: Schumann, Stenhammar
Location: Swedish Church, Berlin -
7th - 12th of May:
Bach "Musikalisches Opfer" with Michael BorgstedeCatholic Church in Rheinböllen
-
14th - 19th of May:
Hohenstaufen Chambermusic FestivalLocation: Hohenstaufen, Germany
-
21st of May:
Recital with Viktor Soos, pianoProgramme: Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofiev
Location: Schloss Engers, Germany -
2nd of June:
Crescendo Festival BerlinChambermusic concert with Mark Gothoni, Janne Saksala, Jörg Walter, Markus Groh and Gottlieb Wallisch
-
3rd and 5th of June:
Recitals with Viktor Soos, pianoProgramme: Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofiev
Location: Schloss Engers, Germany -
7th of June:
Jazz und ClassicLocation: Holzminden, Germany
-
8th of June:
Chambermusic concert with Boris Garlitsky -
17th - 19th of June:
Lebensmelodien EnsembleLocation: Copenhagen, Denmark
-
23th of June:
"Stars of tomorrow"
With Daniel StabrawaLocation: Schloss Corvey
-
26th - 29th of June:
NEO FestivalLocation: Novi Sad, Serbia
-
28th of June:
Solo with "Camerata Novi Sad" and Alexander SitkovetskyProgramme: C.P.E.Bach: Concerto in A-major
-
29th of June:
Chambermusic concertProgramme: Schumann and Tchaikovsky
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia -
7th of July:
Chambermusic concert with Anette Unger, Friedemann Slencska, Edgar WiersockiProgramme: Mozart, Rossini, Mendelssohn
Location: Dresden, Germany -
9th - 12th of July:
Solo Cello Kammerakademie Potsdam -
27th of July - 4th of August:
Éole en Musiques festivalLocation: Paimboeuf, France
-
9th and 10th of August:
Verbier Festival in Italy with Gabriel ProkofievLocation: Italy
-
21st - 24th of August:
Carneval of Animals Saint SaensVaduz Classic Festival
Location: Liechtenstein -
25th of August - 1st of September:
Chambermusic festivalLocation: Rügen, Germany
-
4th of September:
Concert in BerlinProgramme of the festival in Rügen
-
11th - 14th of September:
Solo Cello Kammerakademie Potsdam -
22nd of September:
Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin Solo CelloLocation: Philharmonie Berlin
-
23rd - 30th of September:
SONC chambermusic FestivalLocation: Ljubljana, Slovenia
-
13th of October:
Dvorak cello concertoLocation: Stourbridge, UK
-
16th of October:
RecitalMichael Cohen Weißert, piano
Location: Piano Salon Christophori, Berlin -
19th - 25th of October: New CD promotions
Location: Serbia
-
22nd of October: NOMUS festival
With Simovic, Leskovar, ConunovaProgramme: Schubert
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia -
1st of November: KonzertLEBEN
with Marcel Mok, Victoria Wong, Miguel ErlichLocation: St. Marienkirche Bergen, Rügen, Germany
-
2nd of November: KonzertLEBEN
with Marcel Mok, Victoria Wong, Miguel ErlichLocation: Theater Putbus, Rügen, Germany
-
19th of November:
Haydn D-major Cello ConcertoConductor: 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 CelloLocation: Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
-
2th - 8th of December:
Villa MusicaVivaldi 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 MarquesLocation: Lemgo, Germany
-
18th of December:
KonzertLEBEN
With Marcel Mok, Victoria Wong, Miguel ErlichLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
19th of December:
CELLOHERBST Festival
With Kim, Sussmann, SoosProgramme: Gál, Mahler, Schumann
Location: Unna, Germany -
30th of December:
Chambermusic evening
With Martin Moriarty, Michael Cohen Weißert, Pablo SchatzmannLocation: Piano Salon Christophori, Berlin
-
16th of January:
Celebration of the 90th birthday of Bernhard Vogel, the longest prime-minister in GermanyProgramme: J.S.Bach
Location: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Berlin -
3rd - 6th of February:
Alexander Sitkovetsky
Detmolder chamber orchestraProgramme: Tchaikovsky: "Souvenir de Florence"
Location: Konzerthaus Detmold, Germany -
14th - 17th of February:
Chambermusic concert with Sonc, Crawford, Molaeb
SUMITO Cultural associationProgramme: Britten, Barber, Bridge
Location: Zürich, Switzerland -
26th of February:
Recital with the pianist Han-Wen Jennifer YuProgramme: Schnittke, Boulanger, Britten
Location: "Palais Lichtenau" Potsdam, Germany -
9th - 10th of March:
R G Niederhoffer EventsProgramme: 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 BraunsteinProgramme: Ravel, Strauss, Beethoven, Wolf, Mozart
Location: Germany -
21st - 24th of April:
Schönberg, Lutoslawski with Daniel StabrawaLocation: Detmold, Germany
-
26th of April:
Recital with the pianist Han-Wen Jennifer YuProgramme: Schnittke, Boulanger, Britten
Location: Salon "Christophori" Berlin, Germany -
29th of April:
Recording with Paolo BonominiLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
2nd of May:
Recording of a modern piece by Logan StrosahlLocation: Berlin, Germany
-
15th - 20th of May:
Chambermusic concerts with Vadim GluzmanProgramme: 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, GermanyBrahms piano trio B-major
-
25th of June - 9th of July:
Festival Paax GNPLocation: Mexico
-
9th - 16th of July:
Schloss Tambach Summer Festival -
14th of July:
Recital
Sae Yoon Chon, pianoProgramme: 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 festivalLocation: Nitzow, Germany
-
30th of July - 6th of August:
"Éole en Musiques" festivalLocation: Paimbœuf, France
-
21st - 27th of August:
Bebersee chambermusic festivalLocation: 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-WeißertLocation: Koblenz, Germany
-
22nd - 24th of September:
DKO Berlin
Project with Omar MassaLocation: Berlin Philharmonie
-
29th of September:
Recital
Vita Kan, pianoProgramme: 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, BerlinProgramme: 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 BerlinLocation: Philharmonie Berlin
-
22th of November:
Trio concertLocation: Piano salon Christophori, Berlin
-
24th - 25th of November:
Solo cello with "Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin"Location: Philharmonie Berlin
-
December:
CD RecordingLocation: 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
-
2nd of February:
Shostakovich 2nd cello concerto"Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra"
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia -
1st and 2nd of April:
GWK CompetitionLocation: Münster, Germany
-
24th of April:
Tchaikovsky: Rococo variationsLocation: 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 AcademyLocation: Verbier, Switzerland
-
13th of August:
"Ohrid Summer Festival"- recital with the pianist Aleksandar DjermanovicProgramme: Rachmaninoff, Medtner, Piazzolla, Schumann
Location: Ohrid, North Macedonia -
21st of August - 4th of September:
Krzyzowa Chambermusic FestivalLocation: 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 MasterclassesLocation: Kronberg, Germany
-
10th of November:
Recital with the pianist Naoko SonodaProgramme: Beethoven, Britten, Dvorak, Widmann, Arensky
Location: "Club Blau Weiß" Berlin, Germany -
13th of November:
"GWK" winners concertLocation: Münster, Germany
-
16th - 22nd of November:
"Feuermann competition" Berlin(12 participants invited after the first round)
-
28th of November - 5th of December:
"Villa musica" projectConcerts 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" - recordingRelease: 23rd of December
-
17th of December:
Schubert "Trout quintett"Location: Zürich, Switzerland