Irma Kliauzaitė-Franc

Irma Kliauzaite was born in Lithuania, where she began studying the piano at the age of six. She commenced her formal training in 1990 at the Lithuanian Academy of Music before continuing her studies in piano performance with Prof. Peter Lang and piano chamber music with Prof. Alexei Lubimov at the Mozarteum University, graduating with distinction. She participated in numerous masterclasses with personalities including Lazar Berman, Dimitri Bashkirov, Germaine Mounier, Aldona Dvarionaite, Lev Wlasenko and Barbara Hesse-Bukovska. During this period, she was awarded the Austrian Federal Award of Excellence by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, as well as the Bernhard Paumgartner Medal from the International Mozarteum Foundation.

She has enjoyed major success at international piano competitions, including first prize at the 7th International Mozart Competition in 1999 and the Bösendorfer Prize in Vienna. These achievements were followed by solo performances worldwide, with concerts in Japan, France, Italy and Argentina.

In addition to appearances in her home country with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Irma Kliauzaite has performed with ensembles such as the European C.H.A.I.N. Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz. She has collaborated with distinguished conductors including George Alexander Albrecht, Dennis Russell Davies, Saulius Sondeckis, Juozas Domarkas and Hubert Soudant. In recognition of her artistic achievements, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the President of Lithuania in 2001.

Her festival appearances include the Europäischer Musiksommer in Berlin, the Festival de Piano de Brignoles in Provence, the Mozart Festival in Milan, the contemporary music festival Gaida in Vilnius, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, the Thomas Mann Festival in Lithuania, and Salzburg Mozart Week.

Alongside her solo career, Irma Kliauzaite is an active chamber musician. She is also a dedicated pedagogue, teaching at Mozarteum University Salzburg, the International Summer Academy, and as a director of masterclasses.