MAJA CHANAKJEVIKJ

ENGLISH HORN

Maja was born in Skopje, where she completed her secondary music education and her Bachelor’s studies at the Faculty of Music. She graduated in the class of Prof. Gordana Josifova – Nedelkovska at the Faculty of Music in Skopje. Immediately after graduating, Maja completed her Master’s studies in cultural management. She also earned a Master’s degree in music in the class of Prof. Vladimir Lazarevski, PhD.

During her studies, Maja was awarded numerous prizes at the national music competitions, and was also selected as the best student of the Faculty of Music in Skopje. She attended oboe lessons with the eminent oboists Paul Dombrecht and David Walter.

Starting as a student until today, Maja has performed as a soloist or as a member of chamber orchestras on all of the festivals in Macedonia, as well as abroad. As a soloist she has performed in The Netherlands, Ukraine, Bosna and Herzegovina, Turkey, Hungary, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Serbia, USA, etc. She has also realised a number of audio and video recordings. She is a permanent member of the chamber studio Bachus, the chamber ensemble Consonans, the orchestra F.A.M.E.’s, etc.

Maja showed her affinity for management when she was still a student and started working for Jeunesses Musicales Macedonia and later became a Macedonian representative in a few bodies of the Jeunesses Musicales International. She was also a member of the Ohrid Summer Festival council and first Secretary of the Macedonian Music Council. Her great experience in the field of cultural management, besides organising concerts and managing ensembles and orchestras, is also reflected in her work with music seminars, as well as her article writing in the field.

For her successful work as a leader, but also as an artist, Maja is the recipient of the highest national and international recognitions. In 2011, she was presented with a Medal from Poland, for special merits in the field of culture and arts, a recognition which is rarely presented to foreigners. She was also presented with the national Medal for exceptional contribution to the Macedonian culture by the monastery of St Jovan Bigorski. In 2018, Maja wас decorated with the highest honour awarded in the field of culture and art by the French Republic – Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Maja is a member of the Macedonian Philharmonic as an oboist and English horn soloists for more than 20 years. As an artist, Maja continues to perform and to promote chamber music, as well as music written for the English horn. In the period between 2007 -2017, she was General Manager of the Macedonian Philharmonic, during three mandates.

“I am an eternal enthusiast, always bright and smiling, I rejoice my friends and people, I am constantly in motion and constantly learning, I live with the faith that goodness and art will save the world…

My first love is music, but my second love is art and design. My favourite smell is still the smell of a real book and the pleasure of reading is boundless. Skiing and cycling are the activities which clear my mind, while traveling and exploring lift my spirits. I am happy to have the opportunity and the pleasure to make music with my colleagues from the Macedonian Philharmonic, as well as renowned artists, for more than 20 years. I am especially proud of our concert hall, which building was started and completed during the period when I had the honour to be the General Manager of the institution. As a long-standing member of the Rotary Club, I am happy that I have the possibility to serve the community and to help people in need.”

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