Ella Zirina

“Rising Star” (NRC) Ella Zirina (1997) is a Amsterdam-based jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader originally from Latvia. Zirina's ascent in the Dutch jazz guitar scene has been nothing short of meteoric. Graduating with the highest honors from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she swiftly transitioned from student to mentor, now imparting her expertise as a guitar instructor in the jazz department at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands. Simultaneously, she has captivated audiences across Europe, gracing prestigious stages like BIMHUIS, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Südtirol Jazzfestival, Riga Ritmi Jazz Festival and the Oslo Jazz Festival among many others. She has shared the stage with musicians as Jesse van Ruller, Reinier Baas, Ben van Gelder, Tineke Postma, Pablo Held among many others. Through these experiences, Zirina has honed her craft, developing a distinctive musical voice that stands out as truly her own. She was in residency at BIMHUIS for ‘New Makers’ talent development project from 2021 until 2023 within which she recorded her (Edison Jazz Award nominated) debut studio album ‘Intertwined’. With three studio albums under her belt, her music offers a heartfelt expression of emotion through memorable melodies, intricate textures and grooves, and dynamic improvisations, reflecting a deep love for the instrument and its unpredictable beauty.