Elias Keller

Elias Keller, a pianist and composer specializing in concert improvisation, was born on September 5, 2007, in Villach, Carinthia. His dedication and love for music are reflected in a quote: "Everyone can exceed their limits if they do it with dedication and passion!" (Nelson Mandela). Currently, Elias is attending a course for professional maturity at the Commercial Academy in Klagenfurt.

Elias received early musical education at the Villach Music School. At six, he began piano lessons with Mag. Vladimir Sokolov at the Weißenstein Music School. At 11, he completed his final examination at the Carinthian Music Schools in piano.

At 8, he passed the entrance exam for the Precollege at the Mozarteum University. Currently, Elias studies piano with Prof. Johannes Wilhelm and concert improvisation and composition with Prof. Galina Vracheva at the same university.

Elias also takes lessons in voice training and trumpet, and he is a national prize winner in both categories. He has won many national and international piano competitions, securing first prizes in countries like Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, the USA, Poland, Korea, Great Britain, Switzerland, and others.

In May 2021, Elias was awarded the Austrian classical music award "Goldene Note" and was the "London Young Musician of the Year" for 2020/2021.

He has extensive national and international concert experience, with performances in Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Japan, and the USA. His journey includes solo, chamber music, and orchestral experiences, notably with Orquestra Ars Medica Barcelona, Werkskapelle Ferndorf, Jugendsinfonieorchester Oberkärnten, Junge Philharmonie Wien, RSO-Wien, Philharmonie Salzburg, Millstätter Festival Orchestra, and ensembles and members of the Vienna Philharmonic. Performances with Jan Vogler, Daniel Müller-Schott, Elina Garanca, Daniela Fally, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and Frederic Böhle enrich his career.

Elias participated in international masterclasses with Elisabeth Leonskaja, Arie Vardi, Michel Beroff, Giuliano Mazzoccante, Thomas Kreutzberger, Igor Cognolato, Ingolf Wunder, Dirk Mommertz, and Markus Schirmer.

He has appeared on TV shows such as "Ein Herz für Kinder" (ZDF), Thema (ORF 2), Deutsche Welle, Guten Morgen Österreich (ORF 2), Dok1 (ORF 1), Servus TV, Okidoki (ORF 1), ORF Kärnten, Vera (ORF 2), ORF Salzburg, ORF Wien, the Beethoven X AI Project (WDR), "Die goldene Note" (ORF 2), and "Stars und Talente" (ORF 2). In 2020, he played the role of the 11-year-old Franz Liszt in the film "Beethoven X/AI."

In 2017, he recorded a CD with members of the Vienna Philharmonic, and in 2019, he made a solo recording.

His first solo album, "Tir n´a Noir," was released on November 11, 2022, by Preiser Records. It's an international production with German producer/composer Matthias Schmitt and Norsk Musikforlag AS, Norway's largest music publisher. The album includes 8 video recordings on YouTube, featuring works from the album and three of Elias's own compositions.

Further recordings are planned for the 2023/2024 season, including classical literature, modern music, jazz, crossover, and his own compositions.