The Association of pianists and music pedagogues
Pianofest Bitola
The Association of pianists and music pedagogues Pahrough the exchange of ideas and experiences, seminars, trainings, organizing competitions, festivals, workshops, conferences as well as working with talented children. The association suggests a wider acceptance of the educational value of studying the instrument piano, advocating for providing opportunities for affirmation of talented children in public life by organizing concerts, events, lectures, as well as other activities from the educational and performing music activity.
Jana Cheteleva Belevska
Jana Cheteleva Belevska was born in Bitola, where she began her music education under the tutelage of Margarita Tatarchevska. She graduated from the Sofia Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov,” studying with Elena Dikova. Later, she attended the University of South Florida on a full scholarship, where she studied under Svetozar Ivnov and worked as an assistant.
Cheteleva has received numerous awards at both national and international competitions, including:
- State Competition – Skopje
- Petar Konjevic – Belgrade
- Young Virtuoso – Sofia
- Interfest – Bitola
- Ohrid Pearls – Ohrid
- Claud Khan – Paris
For two consecutive years, she attended the Mozarteum Summer School in Salzburg, where she performed in concerts and collaborated with renowned artists such as Aquiles Delle Vigne and Pavel Gililov.
She has collaborated with many distinguished musicians, including Tamara Podobnaya, Marcela Krudeli, Andrei Diev, Jokut Mihajlovich, Zeni Zaharieva, Anton Dikov, Josip Jermin, Renata Fischer, Rebecca Penneys, and John O’Connor, among others.
At the age of 16, Cheteleva performed with the Macedonian Philharmonic. In 2008, she was the only student selected from her music academy to perform with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, where she played Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.
From 2009 to 2012, she actively participated in concerts across the United States, including performances in the Steinway & Sons concert series and a special concert in New York honoring the composer David Del Tredici, during which she performed his works.
Cheteleva has also been involved in several chamber music projects, such as the Presidential Trio at the University of Florida and a piano duo with Russian pianist Aza Torshkoeva.
Her performances have taken her across Macedonia, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, France, Serbia, and the United States. Currently, she serves as a piano professor at the State Music School in Bitola, where her students have won numerous awards.
Marija Shamoska Budjakovski
Marija Shamoska Budjakovski was born in Bitola, where she completed her primary and secondary music education under the guidance of Prof. Ana Stefanovska. She later enrolled at the Faculty of Music in Skopje, studying with the renowned pianist Prof. Milica Shperovic Ribarski, and completed her master’s degree in the same class. Currently, she serves as a piano and chamber music professor at the State Music School in Bitola.
Throughout her pedagogical and professional career, Budjakovski and her students have achieved numerous national and international awards, thanks to their outstanding performances in prestigious competitions. Her students regularly participate in various events, festivals, and competitions both domestically and abroad, often with great success. Due to her achievements, she has been invited to serve as a jury member for national and international piano competitions.
Budjakovski has participated in many seminars and masterclasses with celebrated pianists, including Makiko Hirata, Marcella Crudelli, Daniela Morelli, Aquiles Delle Vigne, Andrei Diev, and Dang Thai Son. She has also attended professional pedagogical training through USAID and EPTA. Additionally, she has conducted her own seminars and lectures on piano and piano pedagogy, contributing to the “EPTA Macedonia” piano festival and other cultural programs in her country, as well as lectures organized by the association “Piano.”
A significant portion of her artistic career has been dedicated to chamber music, which she is passionate about. Alongside her colleague, Andrijana Dukoska (cello), she formed the duo DUO NUOVO. Currently, she performs in the piano trio TRIO DOLCE, which includes Marija Shamoska Budjakovski on piano, Andrijana Dukoska on cello, and Svetlana Bogdanoska on flute. This collaboration over the past five years has resulted in many successful concerts at various festivals, events, competitions, and projects.
Marija Shamoska Budjakovski is also the co-artistic director of the Association of Pianists and Music Pedagogues “Piano” and serves as the artistic director of the International Piano Competition “Pianofest” in Bitola.