His daring approach to tone and form marked him as a maverick in the musical world, a distinction he welcomes: the very strength of his artistry challenges, provokes, intrigues.
Performing worldwide from a vast repertoire, Kemal Gekić presents fascinating, uncompromising and ever-changing interpretations, always generating frenzied audience enthusiasm.
“He is something like a general who has learned all the rules in the book and is therefore free to ignore them in the time of war”
As a recording artist, Kemal Gekić has won accolades in Europe, America and Japan for insightful, original views of the music. His outstanding Rossini–Liszt transcriptions (Naxos) won “The Rosette” of The Penguin Guide, while his recording of Liszt’s Transcendental Études (JVC) is generally considered to be the best recording of the set in history.
“His playing is transcendental as well as incandescent”
Born in Split, Croatia, Kemal Gekić got his early training from Prof. Lorenza Baturina. He graduated from the class of Prof. Jokuthon Mihailovic at the Art Academy of Novi Sad and was immediately given a faculty appointment by the piano department, which he eventually directed until 1999.
Since 1999 he has been Artist in Residence at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.
