Elena Gekker (piano)

Elena Gekker was born in Moscow and started her piano lessons at the age of 6. She is a graduate of the Gnessin Music College, and a postgraduate in piano studies of the Petrozavodks conservatory. Elena left the USSR in 1976 and lived in California where she studied at postgraduate level at California State University (Fullerton) and University of California (Irvine). While in California and later in Toronto, she specialised in ensemble playing, accompanying both in concert and in competitions. She also taught piano and performed as a soloist. Since coming to Ireland in 1999, she has continued to work as an accompanist with violinist Felicity Lipman, the distinguished viola player Seamus O'Grady and lately with the Oirbsen Chamber Trio.