"It is worth being an artist only if passion drives you"
Blanka Kerekes was born in Hungary.
She obtained her diploma with distinction at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest in the class of Dániel Tősér, then continued her studies at the Zurich University of the Arts in the class of Prof. Matthias Ziegler, where she received a performance and a pedagogy diploma, also with distinction.
Some key insights from her diploma research, with special regards to that modern flute-technics can be learned already at an early age in primary school, have been incorporated by teachers into the core body of music education in Switzerland.
Blanka has been awarded the National Scholarship of Hungary.
Blanka performs as a soloist in several countries of Europe and beyond.
In addition to her classical education, she has expanded her repertoire by studying jazz. She creates her own musical language by blending elements from the above-mentioned styles.
She is praised by the press for her musical virtuosity, grandiose performances and unique sounding.
She enhances the audience’s experience by using different electro-acoustic equipment creatively borrowed from jazz and pop music, as well as she integrates live and pre-recorded electronic into her work.
She has played with numerous famous musicians and orchestras, with the
- Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
- Zürich Opera House
- Zürcher Kammerorchester
- Hans Zender, musicians from the Berliner Philharmoniker
She works regularly with ballet dancers from major opera houses in the world
- Sydney Opera House
- New York Metropolitan Opera
as well as Oscar-nominated film directors and producers.
Blanka plays regularly with the renowned violinist Roby Lakatos.
In 2014, she was invited to open the 1st Movie Music Festival Hungary with her concert at the grand opening ceremony, under the patronage of Ennio Morricone.
She collaborates with the greatest artists in classical, jazz, and rock music from her country.
Blanka is a special guest of the Summer Music Festival of the Esterházy Palace in Austria.
In 2020, Blanka had the honor of representing her country as the only selected Hungarian artist performing during the ‹Day of Europe› online concert, which was initiated by the prestigious World Economic Forum.
In 2023, she received an invitation to perform as a soloist at the European Capital of Culture Jubilee.
A per request of collaborative artists (co-artist), such as in an exhibition of the Golden Globe winner Julian Schnabel, filmmaker and painter, she contributes to performances through free improvisations or event-specific compositions created by herself.
Blanka is associate professor at the Kalaidos Musikhochschule Zürich. She is a jury member of many national and international music competitions and festivals, member of the Aargauer Kuratorium Prize for Culture Committee in classical and jazz music.
Her master courses are well-attended throughout Europe, including countries such as Armenia, Italy, Albania, Poland, Germany, Hungary.
Supporting people in need, especially in the Central-Eastern European region, is a part of the artist’s personal social responsibility. Donations from benefit concerts have been used to build schools and expand educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Blanka is appreciated not only as a soloist and teacher, but also as a frequently invited orchestral musician.
Blanka held the position of principal flutist of the Mannheim Philharmonics from 2017 to 2020. She is often invited as a flutist with esteemed Swiss and Hungarian orchestras such as the Musikkollegium Winterthur, Sinfonieorchester Biel-Solothurn, Tonhalle St. Gallen, and the Mendelssohn Kammerorchester.
