Peter Zelienka, a long-time violinist with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, has passed away. The orchestra announced his death on Saturday, 23 November 2024. Zelienka was set to perform at the Städel Museum that evening, having played with the orchestra at the Alte Oper the night before.
The orchestra paid tribute to Zelienka, describing him as a central figure in its violin section for decades. “He was also the heart of our chamber music activities and the soul of the Orchestra Academy of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony,” they said in a statement. “Above all, he was a friend and a wonderful person. We are all shocked and profoundly saddened, struggling to come to terms with his passing. He leaves a void that will be impossible to fill.”
Born in Zvolen, Slovakia, in 1961, Zelienka studied violin, chamber music, and conducting at the Prague Conservatory. He emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1982 and continued his studies at the Frankfurt University of Music with Edith Peinemann, Ida Bieler (violin), and Dušan Pandula (chamber music).
In 1984, Zelienka co-founded the Hába Quartet with Pandula, playing viola from 1999 onwards. He was also a member of Ensemble Phorminx from 1995 to 2002, performing on tours in Europe and Asia, premiering new works, and recording for various radio stations and record labels.
Zelienka joined the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in 1993 and played an instrumental role in organizing the orchestra’s chamber music series for over 20 years. Since 2014, he had also directed the orchestra’s Orchestra Academy.
Related Topics
- College Student Develops AI-Powered Robot Violinist Capable of Playing Songs
- Billy Bragg Auctions Guitar to Save William Blake’s Cottage
- US Authorities Seize 3,000 Fake Gibson Guitars Worth $18M in Record-Breaking Bust
