Elvire Boelee

Biography

Elvire Boelee started playing piano at the age of 6. She started under the guidance of the American pianist Anne Marie Mott in Tarrytown, New York. Two years later, after moving back to the Netherlands, she continued her studies with the Ukrainian pianist Tamara Boiko.

In 2001 when she was just 11 years old, she participated in the Haydn Music Festival, a Dutch competition for young musicians. She became a finalist.

A few years later in 2004, she participated in the Prinses Christina Competition, for which she was rewarded an honorary mention.

In June 2009 Elvire was admitted to the preparatory year of the Prins Claus conservatory in Groningen. At the same time she also studied Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Groningen.

After one year, in June 2010, Elvire decided to focus her attention completely on her music studies. She was admitted to the conservatory and studied with pianist Bart van de Roer, Nata Tsvereli and Paul Komen.

Because she enjoyed working together with other musicians, Elvire became very active in the chamber music scene. Aside from giving many concerts in a variety of ensembles, she also became active as an accompanist in concerts and competitions.

In 2010 she accompanied national prize winner saxophone player Dineke Nauta in the Prinses Christina Competition. In 2013 Elvire accompanied oboe player Emma van de Galiën who won an honorary mention at the Prinses Christina Competition.

In March 2012 Elvire had the great pleasure of playing the famous Rhapsody in Blue concerto written by George Gershwin, together with the wind orchestra “Harmonie 67” conducted by Floris de Wever, in Groningen. A few weeks later Elvire also performed Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 3, with symphony orchestra “G.S.M.G Bragi” conducted by Pieter van der Wulp, in Groningen.

In 2013 she founded the trio “Pas de Trois” a trio consisting of saxophone, clarinet and piano. Because of their unusual formation, the trio often writes arrangements. They also commission composers to write new works for their ensemble.

In January 2014 Elvire graduated from the Prins Claus Conservatory.

Since January 2014 she teaches in Kunst & Coo (Art & Co), the music school in Oosterwolde, Friesland. Here she has the pleasure of transferring her passion for classical music to the next generation.

In the summer of 2014 she formed the DimitrovBoelee piano duo with the Bulgarian pianist Dimitar Dimitrov. They give many performances every year throughout the Netherlands.

With her piano duo she prizes in the following competitions:

Kanjers in de Leest
Ulvenhart Klassiek
Vught Klassiek
Guldenberg Klassiek

Together Dimitar and Elvire also did extensive research in the area of stage fright. They discovered a practicing method specifically designed to give musicians confidence on stage. They debuted their practice method in the “Atlas Theater” in Emmen, the Netherlands, in honor of the “North Netherlands Piano Day”. An article featuring their practice method was published in the “Piano Bulletin” of the EPTA (European Piano Teachers Association) in September 2019.

Elvire participated in masterclasses of several well-known pianists including: Igor Roma, Théodore Paraskivesco, Vladimir Tropp, Daniel Wayenberg and Maria Belooussova.