Eli Kalčeva, a Czech pianist of Bulgarian heritage, comes from a musical family that nurtured her love for the piano from an early age.

After studying at the conservatory in Plzeň, she completed her Master’s degree with distinction at the University of Music Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden. Her studies in Dresden were supported by prestigious scholarships, enabling her artistic development. She later continued her studies in Italy, further refining her piano performance under the guidance of Prof. Arkadi Zenziper.

Eli is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions. Even during her school years, she received awards at the Prague Junior Note Competition. Later, while studying at the conservatory, she achieved top placements at the nationwide Czech Conservatory Competition and won the Flame Competition in Paris. She is also a laureate of the Smetana Piano Competition and recipient of the “Pilsner Orpheus” Award for outstanding artistic achievements and for representing her hometown, Plzeň, abroad. This distinction also included performances with the Plzeň Philharmonic Orchestra and the Erzgebirge Philharmonic Aue in Germany.

In addition to solo recitals at festivals such as Smetana Days in Plzeň, the Czech-German Cultural Days in the Elbe Euroregion, and the Elbe Valley International Music Festival, she is deeply dedicated to chamber music.

In the Czech Republic, she has worked closely with her sister, the violinist Greti Kalčeva. She currently performs regularly in a duo with cellist Akim Korkin, captivating audiences with profound and expressive chamber music performances.

Her artistry is also featured in concerts organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna, where she promotes Czech musical culture through her performances.

Eli is also a sought-after piano accompanist. She collaborates with soprano Petra Havránková-Hagemeister of the Semperoper Dresden, with whom she has presented a song recital featuring works by Antonín Dvořák. Her collaboration with soprano Mariana Ambrožová includes a series of recitals dedicated to Czech song and opera repertoire, which she has successfully introduced to German audiences.

Alongside her active concert career, she taught at the Heinrich Schütz Conservatory in Dresden from 2020 to 2025.

She currently brings her stage experience into her teaching at the Marktredwitz Music School and also serves as a jury member for the piano competition “Winterstars Dresden.”