My story
I’m an artist, a citizen of the world and a storyteller: my story tells audiences just how diverse and inclusive the art form I love can be, despite the shortfalls of the past. It tells society that it is up to each and every one of us to ensure that unlike my younger self, children today can learn from an early age all about the great musicians past and present, regardless of their background and gender; inspiring them to work hard, never give up and continue to break down those unnecessary barriers that we, all too often, still put around ourselves today.
No one chooses where they are born but I consider myself lucky my journey started in post-communist Romania, a country I adore and will always call home. I was brought up in the church choir as my whole family sang in this tight community, so my heart was filled with 4-part harmonies from the very beginning. Every summer was spent with children at summer camps, singing alongside my Mum, who taught herself to play guitar while the rest of the summer we spent with Gran at the monasteries, high up in the mountains, where the church bells and monks’ chanting resounded throughout the forests. Having saved up for years, my Mum bought an upright, which we still have at home, a Russian deep mahogany beautiful instrument called Tchaikovsky….Little did I know this gentleman was going to be such a huge part of my life later. I attended the Specialist Music School in Iasi, and it became clear the piano was my path, my world, my everything. After my concerto debut, I confidently declared “I’m going to be a concert pianist”. You see, the evening didn’t start as well as planned as I tripped over as I stepped on stage and the music flew from every nearby stand, Mum froze in the front row and the conductor thought that was the end of it. But it’s these sort of moments that define you: do you start crying and give up? Or pick yourself up, smile and keep going? Good thing I learnt that lesson early on. I was 9.
Festival after festival, competition after competition, waking up at 4 am every morning to practice as piano rooms were scarce, I uncovered a whole new world of wonders and discovered I loved practicing, unlike most of my friends. My first piano teachers were both women, incredibly different in character and what they taught me, but without whom, I wouldn’t be here. But looking back, despite all the fantastic women role models in my life, I never wondered about a female composer or a female pianist. I had never seen or heard a woman play the piano or conduct until much later, but somehow, it seemed normal. I didn’t even question it. I know times are changing and one can really see progress, but I hope with all my heart that gender, colour, ethnicity and quotas will be irrelevant in the future and talent will prevail in all aspects of the music world.
I left Romania just as I turned 17. Just my suitcase and I. England welcomed me with open arms, and I fell in love with it immediately. And I’m still here, many moons after, building a home away from home. Receiving the Gold Medal at the RNCM in my third year of undergrad was thrilling. Dressed in a beautiful gown, the Duchess of Kent was presiding. The event didn’t turn out as glamorous as I thought, as she forgot to hand me the medal when we shook hands in front of the whole auditorium. I got it afterwards, backstage, in a dark corner but its light shone brighter than anything else before.
Winning YCAT was a life changing experience as, little by little, I started touring and experiencing the life of a concert pianist. And let me tell you, what a heck of a ride! It’s hard work plus an insatiable desire to learn and curiosity without limits.
Festival after festival, competition after competition, waking up at 4 am every morning to practice as piano rooms were scarce, I uncovered a whole new world of wonders and discovered I loved practicing, unlike most of my friends. My first piano teachers were both women, incredibly different in character and what they taught me, but without whom, I wouldn’t be here. But looking back, despite all the fantastic women role models in my life, I never wondered about a female composer or a female pianist. I had never seen or heard a woman play the piano or conduct until much later, but somehow, it seemed normal. I didn’t even question it. I know times are changing and one can really see progress, but I hope with all my heart that gender, colour, ethnicity and quotas will be irrelevant in the future and talent will prevail in all aspects of the music world.