Dr. Jonida Lazellari is an Albanian performing artist and piano educator. She is recognized for her versatility as both a soloist and collaborative pianist, with a particular passion for championing contemporary music and works by women composers. Her artistry has brought her to festivals and venues across Europe and the United States, including the Pianodrom Festival, Albanian Brass Festival, Frymon Festival (Albania), Valletta International Piano Festival (Malta), European Summer Music Academy (Kosovo), and the Chamber Music Collective at Cornell University.

Dr. Lazellari has performed as a collaborative pianist with the Art Song Preservation Society of New York City, the Association of Classical Musicians and Artists, and at the Live Music by Living Composers concert at the Tenri Cultural Institute, presented by the Leschetizky Association. She has also appeared with the Mosaic Concert Series, President’s Concert at the Pullo Center, Student Engagement Expo, and Musical Interludes at the Village in Pennsylvania, as well as outreach and recital programs at the LaFayette Public Library and Civic Morning Musicals in Syracuse, NY.

A dedicated scholar and advocate for new music, Dr. Lazellari has presented her research and performances at national and international conferences, including the PMTA Symposium at Kutztown University, the College Music Society Northeast Chapter at Hofstra University in Long Island, and the CMS Great Lakes Chapter Conference at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Graduate Exhibition Award (Penn State), the Hira Poncha Endowed Piano Award (Syracuse University), and the World University Service Scholarship (Albania). Her professional affiliations include the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the College Music Society (CMS), and the Piano Teachers Congress of New York (PTCNY).

Dr. Lazellari earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Pennsylvania State University, her Master of Music from Syracuse University, and both her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Piano from the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania.