Olja Raudonen

Member of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians since 2010

Olja Raudonen started studying cello at the age of six with Lydia Karpova at the Jõhvi Music School (1989–1998). She continued her studies at the Heino Eller Tartu Music College in the cello class of Reet Mets (1998–2002) and then at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater with Henry-David Varema (2002–2005). From 2004 to 2005, Raudonen studied as an exchange student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Austria (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz), and continued there as a master’s student in the cello class of Florian Kitt (2006–2007). In 2008, Raudonen completed her master’s degree at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater as a student of Henry-David Varema.

Olja Raudonen has participated in the masterclasses of Maria Kliegel, Ola Karlsson, Florian Kitt, Niels Ullner, Peter Bruns, Gerhard Mantel, Stefan Görner, and Stefan Popov. Raudonen was an active participant in Florian Kitt’s masterclasses in Kremsmünster from 2005 to 2009. Olja Raudonen has been awarded diplomas at the Estonian National Competition for Young Violinists and Cellists in 2003 (organised by the Estonian String Teachers Association) as well as at the Cello Competition of the Suur-Jaani Music Festival in 2009. From 2003 to 2007 Raudonen worked as a cellist with the orchestra of the Estonian National Opera. Since 2007 she has been a member of the Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra.

Olja Raudonen has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician both in Estonia and Austria. Since 2008 she has also been active as a concert organiser in Tartu, enriching the local cultural life with cello music. Raudonen is actively collaborating with pianist Piia Paemurru, with whom she has regularly performed romantic concert programmes at the Assembly Hall of the University of Tartu. Since 2002, Raudonen has performed with guitarist Jelena Ossipova and since 2019 with accordionist Jaak Lutsoja.

Olja Raudonen's homepage


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