Sokol Nikaj, cellist, was born in Tirana, Albania, where he received his first cello lesson at age 7. His mother, a well-known pianist in Albania, accompanied him through all stages of his career. A first prize recipient at the National Cello Competition, Mr. Nikaj has also participated at the Summer Festival in Athens, Greece, and studied under Prof. Gjovalin Lazri in Artistic Lyceum “Jordan Misja”. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. There, Mr. Nikaj performed in such venues as Eckelshausen Festival, Schott Verlag, Rathaus Mainz, and in Branderburger Tor in celebration of the 10th year of the fall of the Berlin wall, under the direction of Mstislav Rostropovich. From 1999-2002 he toured Italy and Germany as a member of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie.
Since arriving in New York, Mr. Nikaj has appeared in chamber music concerts at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Flushing Town Hall, Steinway Hall and the Colden Center for the Performing Arts. He has performed as a guest cellist with the Corona Trio and was Goliard Concerts’ 2007 Herman De Jong Memorial Scholarship winner. Earning his Master’s Degree from Queens College in 2007, Mr. Nikaj was the winner of the Concerto Competition, performing the Haydn Cello Concerto in C major with the Queens College Symphony Orchestra. His principal teachers include Julius Berger in Germany and Marcy Rosen in New York.
Currently he is working for the violin shop Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins, LLC as manager of Gostrings. In addition to his active performance schedule, Mr. Nikaj was a faculty member at the Eastern School of Music and Manhasset School of Music, as well as maintaining his own private studio.
