Saša Gerželj-Donaldson

After beginning her studies at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor in Slovenia, at the age of 16 Saša passed the piano performance entrance exam for the University for Performing Art and Music Graz, where she took her BMus and MMus with Dr. Walter Kamper.  She then left for Canada to study for a fully-funded Artist Diploma with John Perry at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto, where she met and was also tutored by Leon Fleisher. Her studies were enriched by masterclasses with Pascal Rogé, Rudolph Kehrer, Marc Durand, Robert Mcdonald, Julian Martin, Evelyne Brancart and others.

While studying in Austria, she performed as a soloist with the Ensemble for New Music Graz and went on to numerous international venues and festivals, including World Music Days, Ciclo de Primavera Boadilla del Monte Madrid, Lange Nacht der Musik Graz, International EPTA Luzern, Roy Thompson Hall Toronto, Rising Stars Toronto, Yamaha Canada Showcase ROM,  Festival Lent, Mozart Gala RCM Toronto, Rising Stars Toronto, Glasbeni September, National Hall Maribor – Orchestral Cycle, Studio 14 RTV Slovenia, Piano Marathon Rogaška, Minoriten Saal Graz, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. She played Strauss’ Burleske, Op. 1 with the Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra under Conrad von Alphen and SNG Maribor Orchestra, Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Scottish Sinfonia under Neil Mantle MBE and Schumann Piano Concerto with GCO. She has recorded for several radio stations: Radiotelevizija Slovenija, Österreichischer Rundfunk, Radio Nacional de España and the CBC Canada.

Saša’s awards include the Zois Scholarship Slovenian government programme for gifted students in Slovenia (1994-2003), the Martha Debelli Prize for the most prospective student of the University for Music and Performing Arts Graz and the Ministerium für Kultur Austria Prize. Her study Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of Music at the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto was funded by the Jun Fujimoto scholarship (2004, 2005) and the Margaret Phillips Award (2004, 2005).  She was also a prize winner at the Pianello Val Tidone International Piano Competition. In 2013 she received the Dr. Roman Klasinc Award from the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor– Slovenia for exceptional achievements in music.

Saša has taught at both the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor and the University for Performing Arts and Music Graz.  She has conducted piano masterclasses and sat on the jury for national and international piano competitions throughout Europe. She is the artistic director of the Carinthian International Piano Competition and the PAMT Summer Academy for young pianists.

Her students have been successful in winning piano competitions international level.

She was also invited as piano judge for BBC Young Musician for Scotland which was a very joyous experience.