ICon Arts Ensemble
The Transylvanian contemporary music group ”ICon Arts” is named after the ICon Arts Festival – the starting point of this ensemble, founded in 2009 at Sibiu, by the percussion player Andrei Marcovici.
The ICon Arts Ensemble is conducted by Gabriel Bebeșelea, a young and talented artist who shares with his colleague the enthusiasm for a fresh approach of both classical and new music. The group counts 15 young musicians, some – former students of ICon Arts Academy and others – performers in Sibiu National Philharmonic Orchestra, and its primarily goal is to promote contemporary music and attract new audiences.
Among ICon Arts Ensemble collaborators, one could name: Theo Wolters (conductor), Alexandru Tomescu (violin), Rodica Vica (soprano), Ioana Ilie (piano) and Bogdan Sărătean (actor).
In September 2011, ICon Arts Ensemble was invited to perform during the composition workshop organized within the ”George Enescu” International Festival and it was highly appreciated by the participant lecturers (and members of the ”George Enescu” Composition Contest): Bernard Cavanna (France), Dan Dediu (Romania), Costin Miereanu (France), Octavian Nemescu (Romania), Cornel Taranu (Romania), Hubert Stuppner (Italy), Zygmunt Krause (Poland). Following this experience, the group has recevied the invitation for the next ”George Enescu” Festival, in 2013.
The year 2011 ended for ”ICon Arts” members on Sibiu Philhrmonic stage, performing Mahler’s 4th Symphony (reduction by Erwin Stein), with the Romanian soprano Rodica Vica, and its established conductor, Gabriel Bebeșelea.
Starting from 2013, the ICon Arts Ensemble is part of a 3 year project called the European Contemporary Orchestra (ECO), collaborating with renowned ensembles like Musiques Nouvelles (Belgium) and Telemaque (France), on various stages in Sibiu, Marseilles (France), Mons (Belgium) and also in ”George Enescu” Festival.