Teaching Languages : English, German, Hungarian
Blanka
Kerekes was born in Hungary.
She
obtained her diploma with distinction at the Franz Liszt Academy of
Music in Budapest in the class of Dániel Tősér, then continued her studies at
the Zurich University of the Arts in the class of Prof. Matthias Ziegler, where
she received a performance and a pedagogy diploma, also with distinction.
Some
key insights from her diploma research, with special regards to that modern
flute-technics can be learned already at an early age in primary school, have
been incorporated by teachers into the core body of music education in
Switzerland.
Blanka
has been awarded the National Scholarship of Hungary.
Blanka
performs as a soloist in
several countries of Europe and beyond.
In
addition to her classical education, she has expanded her repertoire by
studying jazz. She creates her own musical language by blending elements from
the above-mentioned styles.
She
is praised by the press for her musical virtuosity, grandiose performances and
unique sounding. She enhances the audience’s experience by using different electro-acoustic
equipment creatively borrowed from jazz and pop music, as well as she
integrates live and pre-recorded electronic into her work.
She has played with numerous famous musicians and orchestras, with the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Zürich Opera House, Zürcher Kammerorchester, Hans Zender, musicians from the Berliner Philharmoniker.
She works regularly with ballet dancers from major opera houses in the world - Sydney Opera House, New York Metropolitan Opera as well as Oscar-nominated film directors and producers.
Blanka
plays regularly with the renowned violinist Roby Lakatos.
In
2014, she was invited to open the 1st Movie Music Festival Hungary with
her concert at the grand opening ceremony, under the patronage of Ennio
Morricone.
She
collaborates with the greatest artists in classical, jazz, and rock music from
her country.
Blanka
is a special guest of the Summer Music Festival of the Esterházy Palace in
Austria.
In
2020, Blanka had the honor of representing her country as the only selected
Hungarian artist performing during the ‚Day of Europe‘ online concert, which
was initiated by the prestigious World Economic Forum.
In 2023, she received an invitation to perform as a soloist at the European Capital of Culture Jubilee.
A
per request of collaborative artists (co-artist), such as in an exhibition of
the Golden Globe winner Julian Schnabel, filmmaker and painter, she contributes
to performances through free improvisations or event-specific compositions
created by herself.
Blanka
is associate professor at
the Kalaidos Musikhochschule Zürich. She is a jury member of many national and international music
competitions and festivals, member of the Aargauer Kuratorium Prize for Culture
Committee in classical and jazz music.
Her master courses are
well-attended throughout Europe, including countries such as Armenia, Italy,
Albania, Poland, Germany, Hungary.
Supporting
people in need, especially in the Central-Eastern European region, is a part of
the artist’s personal social responsibility. Donations from benefit concerts
have been used to build schools and expand educational opportunities for
students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Blanka
is appreciated not only as a soloist and teacher, but also as a frequently invited orchestral musician.
Blanka
held the position of principal flutist of the Mannheim Philharmonics from 2017
to 2020. She is often invited as a flutist with esteemed Swiss and Hungarian
orchestras such as the Musikkollegium Winterthur, Sinfonieorchester
Biel-Solothurn, Tonhalle St. Gallen, and the Mendelssohn Kammerorchester.
