“He has an accomplished technique, a natural rapport with the orchestra and knows how to express his ideas and communicate effectively.”
Paavo Järvi
“It certainly helps that Olsi Qinami understands bel canto tradition and idiom so well, deftly keeping the pace alive and yet allowing singers space for vocal embellishment and exhibition.”
Alexander Campbell, Classical Source
“Conducting a technically secure and musically alert London City Philharmonic Orchestra, Olsi Qinami’s no-nonsense approach built the scenes effectively, particularly the long trial scene leading to Filippo’s judgement.” (Bellini - Beatrice di Tenda)
Claire Seymour, Opera Today
“His knowledge of my piano concerto was exceptional. He brought out details and colours which I had imagined when I composed the concerto.”
Fatos Lumani, Composer
Olsi Qinami is the Principal Conductor and Music Director of the London City Philharmonic, Conductor at the National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Albania and Professor of Conducting at the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania.
Olsi has worked with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, National Opera of Slovenia, Opera Hong Kong, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Parnu Festival Orchestra, Constanta State Opera, National Opera of Albania, National Opera of North Macedonia, Athens Philharmonic, Opera de Massy in Paris, The Amadeus and Chorus Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Versailles, Kammerphilharmonie Graz, Orchestra Giovanile di Genova and many others. In 2024 Olsi conducted the CEMAN ORCHESTRA Central European Music Academies Network Orchestra with a tour in Trieste at the Teatro Verdi, Ljubljana Academy of Music, Croatia in Rijeka and Gorznjan.
In 2015 he was awarded the 2nd prize at the International Conducting Competition with the London Classical Soloists.
Olsi began studying piano at the age of 6 in his native country Albania and studied at the Lycée Artistique “Jordan Misja” in Tirana, and later in the UK with Nigel Clayton professor at the London “Royal College of Music”.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the “Royal Birmingham Conservatoire” where he studied with Daniele Rossini and Michael Seal, a Bachelor’s Degree in Conducting from the “Academy of Arts in Albania” and also Diplome Superior in Conducting from the “Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris” where he studied with Dominique Rouits.
Olsi continued his studies with Paavo Jarvi at the "Jarvi Conducting Academy", Riccardo Muti at the "Riccardo Muti Opera Academy" with Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini, "Orkney Advanced Conducting Course" with Alexander Vedernikov & Charles Peebles and "the Royal Northern College of Music Advanced Conducting Masterclasses" with Mark Heron. He also studied with, Jorma Panula, Michalis Economou, Marco Guidarini, Stefano Ranzani, Alexander Vedernikov, Roland Çene, Petrika Afezolli, Bujar Llapaj, Howard Williams, Neil Thomson and others.
