IWEEK

Szőcs Botond - pianist

“Wonderfully does the young pianist Szőcs Botond sing ... A second Richter… I wouldn’t even know what to start with … his care to accurately convey each musical phrase, his full and round sound, or his acknowledged, yet unbelievable versatility! [...]. However, above all, I would emphasise his outstanding sensitivity and commensurate impetus,” as highlighted by the critic Petra Gherasim in the review of his piano recital at the Romanian Athenaeum. And the eulogies for the young pianist can go on and on.

The pianist Szőcs Botond, now at the age of 29, made a name for himself due to his energetic and unique temperament, to the thrilling intensity of his performances, and to the persuasive force in the expression of his art. 

A graduate of the Faculty of Music within Transilvania University of Brașov, he studied under the world-renowned Professor Stela Drăgulin’s guidance, in her turn a prominent emblematic personality of the international piano school. In 2024, he completed his doctoral studies, and currently holds the position of Assistant Professor at the same faculty. Apart from his academic achievements, Botond conducts his activity as an orchestra leader and pianist at the prestigious “Tamási Áron” Theatre of Sfântu Gheorghe.

He debuted as a soloist at the age of 17, with the Sibiu State Philharmonic Orchestra, and this was the onset of a brilliant career. He subsequently performed many concerts with Romania’s distinguished symphony orchestras, such as the ones of Brașov, Sibiu, Craiova, Arad, Satu Mare, Pitești, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Bacău, Galați, Brăila and Odorheiu Secuiesc, but also with “Teleradio-Moldova” Orchestra.

Szőcs Botond’s pianistic rise is also substantiated by his outstanding recitals, held both in the country and on the greatest stages worldwide. His tours in Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Hungary, Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, China, Vietnam, Dubai and Cuba confirmed his distinctive versatility and interpretative refinement.

Carina Cătăramă - pan-flute player

Carina Cătăramă is a second-year student at the Faculty of Music within Transilvania University of Brașov. She began her studies of pan flute at the age of 11, under the renowned performer Radu Nechifor’s guidance, in his turn one of maestro Gheorghe Zamfir’s disciples. Carina stands out for the sensitivity and genuineness of her performances.

She participated in a great many national and international competitions, winning numerous awards, such as the First Prize at “George Georgescu” International Music Contest. She performed concerts and recitals in many countries, such as Japan, Germany, Spain, Germany, Panama, Costa Rica, and more.

The Musical Centre of the Transylvania Universityis a unique support-department on a national scale, established in 2015 with the primary objective of becoming a cultural catalyst within the academic community of Braşov by organizing cultural and artistic events at the highest standards of professionalism, demand, and performance. The rich activity of the Musical Centre has materialized over the years in a consistent and diverse range of programs, such as the Concert Season, the Transylvania University Chamber Orchestra, the Brassovia Student Chamber Music Festival, the Opera Gala, educational, humanitarian, or unconventional concerts, national and international conferences. The cultural personalities invited to these programs represent prestigious names in the musical and music-scientific field at the national and international level, creating moments of the most elevated standard of interpretive excellence in the events held under the aegis of the Musical Centre. Among these, the importance of the establishment in 2019 of the Transylvania University Chamber Orchestra must be emphasized, a project with ample perspectives that has the property of being unique among comprehensive universities at the national level.

The Music Center has been a constant presence in the cultural life of Braşov, a presence that has generated a conducive context for the annual perpetuation of events that have already become a tradition anticipated in the academic environment of Braşov and beyond: the Opening Concert of the Academic Year (October 1), St. Nicholas Evening (December 6), the Concert dedicated to the Transylvania University Day (March 1). The close collaboration with the Romanian Embassies worldwide has made possible the presence of the Musical Centre in international events at a high interpretative-artistic level. Through its unique status in the Romanian academic environment, the Musical Centre has proven to be, until now, a versatile active presence in the context of universal musical and music-scientific activity, acting like a true cultural ambassador of Transylvania University by promoting versatilely the highest axiological standards. Its ascending trajectory is highlighted by the multitude of directions of activity and the abundance of projects already undertaken or in the process of conceptualization, all guided in substance by the fundamental ideal of the Center – excellence and professionalism in interpretation and research.