Ion Bogdan Ştefănescu
Born on 25th of April 1969, in Romania, renowned flutist Ion Bogdan Stefanescu studied at the National University of Music in Bucharest (1993) and at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA, with Alexander Murray (1994-1995). He also took diferent courses with proffesors such as Alain Marion, Wolfgang Schulz , Pierre Yves Artaud, James Galway. Since 2002 he has been a doctor in music at the National University of Music in Bucharest. He debuted as a soloist at the young age of 14, at the Atheneum Hall in Bucharest, with “Il Cardellino”, by Antonio Vivaldi. Since then, Ion Bogdan Stefanescu has held many recitals and concerts as soloist in Romania and abroad, in England, France, Spain, Czechoslovakia, North Korea, Germany, U.S.A etc.
During his career, he was awarded numerous prestigious awards at national and international competitions, such as: the “Cultural Merit Medal”, Order of Chevalier, conffered by the President of Romania for Excellency in Culture , 2011 and for Excellency in Music, 2004; the Romanian Music Magazine Prize for interpretation, 2009; the Union of Composers and Musicologists Prize for Trio Contraste, 2009 and for Solo Activity, 2007; Liones Club Prize for Best Performance in James Galway Seminar, 2003; the Prize of the “George Dima” Academy of Music, Cluj, Romania, 1987; First Prize at the “Concertino Praga” competition, Czechoslovakia, 1986; the Praise-worthy Diploma , G.B.Viotti, Vercelli – Italy, 1984 (Chamber music); First Prize at the National Flute Competition, 1985.
He participated in numerous national national and international music festivals such as: George Enescu International Festival, Bucharest; Contemporary Music Festival, Bucharest and Darmstadt; Festival of Classical and Contemporary Music, Phoenian, North Korea; National Flute Assosiation, Kanssas, USA; International Flute Assosiation, Munchen; Zeit für Neue Musik, Bayreuth, Germania; Wien Modern; Steingreber Festival.
He is member of three very important Romanian contemporary music groups: Trio Contraste, ProContemporania and Profil. He participated in many Radio and TV recordings ( S.R.R., Deutschlandfunk-Köln, WDR, Société de Musique Contemporaine Lausanne, Bayeriche Rundfunk, DRS 2, Deuchlandfunk, TVR 1, TVR 2, TVR Cultural, Antena 1, B1TV, Alfa TV, TVRM).
Recorded CDs: “Foergetmenot”, Ed. gutingi, Germany, 2012; “Tabu – Violeta Dinescu / Trio Contraste”: Gutingi, Germany, 2010; “A Composer – An Interpreter”, 2009; “Apfelwürmer” (music by Dan Dediu): Cavalli Records, Germany, 2007; “Circuit” (solo flute): Gutingi, Germany, 2005; “Uroboros” (solo flute, music by Doina Rotaru): Ed. Muzicală, Bucharest, 2005; “Wandlungen” (Trio Contraste): Leondra, Germany, 2005; “Sonnengesang” (Trio Contraste): Gutingi, Germany, 2004; “Ansamblul Profil”, 2004; “Romanian Women Composers” (ProContemporania): Arfa – UCMR, Bucharest 2003; “George Enescu – Dixtuorul” (The “G.Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra): Art Nova, Bucharest 1999; George Enescu – Chamber Symphony (The “G.Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra): Art Nova, Bucharest 1999.
Recorded DVDs: with the “George Enescu” quintet – “Scarlatti & Beethoven”: AIX Records, SUA, 2002; “Mixtures I”, AIX Records, SUA, 2002; solo – “I.S.Bach”, AIX Records, SUA, 2002
During 1993, he was Solo Flute at the Radio Chamber Orchestra of Bucharest. Between 1993-1998 and 2008-2010 he teached at the National University of Music in Bucharest. Since 1997 he has been Solo Flute of the “George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucharest, Romania. Since 2007 he has been a Soloist at the Timişoara Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2011 he is Professor at “Hyperion” University in Bucharest. Since 2011, he has been a member of Romanian Writers Union. In the past years, Ion Bogdan Stefanescu has also been active as a composer, as a opera libretist, as a poet and as a writer (“Blood Voices”:Tracus Arte, 2012; “The Passing Word”: Tracus Arte, 2011; “Chage Unchaged”: Opera Magna, 2010; “Of Stones and Birds”: Axa Publishing, 2006; Flute’s Ages: Libra, 2005; Games of Mirrors: Libra, 2004). His biography is included in “Men of Achievement” (International Biographical Centre, Cambrige, 1988); “5000 Personalities of the World” (Two, The American Biographical Institute, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, 1989); “Who’s who in Romania” (Pegasus Press, Bucureşti, 2002).
Official website, HERE.