Nikolaj Sajko graduated in cello performance from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Ciril Škerjanec and completed his Master of Science at the same institution, researching the articulation and phrasing of the orchestral playing. As a soloist he perfected his performance further at postgraduate studies at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz with Michael Dallinger. During his studies he regularly took part in several international seminars with prominent professors such as I. Gavriš. E. Schoenfeld, A. Noras, C. Onczay and T. Kühne. Nikolaj Sajko was a member of the Gustav Mahler youth orchestra which operates under the leadership of Claudio Abbado. Besides that he was a member of the World Youth Orchestra. As a soloist Nikolaj performed with Maribor Philharmonic Orchestra, chamber orchestras Gaudeamus and Amadeus and with Maribor Youth Orchestra. He has performed in several solo recitals, chamber concerts and successful musical projects on the national as well as the international level.

He was awarded the Klasinc diploma and Antonio Tarsia prize; other important achievements come from national and international competitions for young musicians in Gorizia, Lienz, Zagreb and Ljubljana. At present he is the assistant solo cellist in the Symphony Orchestra of Slovene National Theatre in Maribor and a professor at the Conservatory for Music and Ballet in Maribor. In January this year Nikolaj released his first duo CD, along with pianist Miha Haas, with works for cello and piano by Edvard Grieg, Risto Savin, Bohuslav Martinů and Blaž Pucihar.

Concerts

Boundless Creativity
5.9.2011