Under the Guidance
of Great Cellists

Born in 1994, Ştefan Cazacu started his musical education at the age of 6 with his father, the well-known cellist Marin Cazacu. He graduated from the Romanian National University of Music, Bucharest, and he took his Master’s degree at the same academic institution (class of another influential Romanian cellist: Răzvan Suma).

 

Due to an Erasmus grant awarded by the European Union, he completed his Master’s studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria – one of the most important music institutions in the world, with a history older than 200 years (since 1817).

 

Ştefan Cazacu has participated in masterclasses taught by well-known cellists, greatly appreciated on the international music stage – such as Reinhard Latzko, Wolfgang Boettcher, and Frans Helmerson.

 

 

Pedagogical Activity

In addition to his solo activity, in recent years, Ștefan Cazacu has chosen to devote himself to teaching and sharing his experience to contribute to the training of young musicians. Thus, since 2020, Ștefan Cazacu has been teaching at the National University of Music Bucharest and the Dinu Lipatti National College of Arts; he has also held a series of masterclasses.

 

His most recent masterclass was presented during the CellEAST International Festival - the first cello festival in Romania (2022) - where he was also invited as a soloist and performed with the Romanian Youth Orchestra.

 

 

Special Projects

In October 2018, with his parents and sister - cellist Marin Cazacu, flutist Constanţa Cazacu and violinist Iulia Cazacu - he took part in his first Romanian nationwide tour: Classic to the Power Three.

 

Since 2011, Ștefan Cazacu has constantly worked with Violoncelissimo, an ensemble created by his father, Marin Cazacu, in 1992. Violoncelissimo is an ensemble gathering between 4 and 100 cellos, a flexible formula depending on the event. Besides Violoncelissimo, Ștefan Cazacu has performed both abroad, in cities like Brussels or Washington DC, and Romania - in Bucharest, Iași, and Timișoara.

 

Ștefan often plays with cellist Mircea Marian - the two artists present themselves to the public as Duo Serafim - and has been appreciated in the PlaCello ensemble - together with Răzvan Suma, Ella Bokor, and Mircea Marian.

biography

Recent Achievements

Recently awarded in Germany and Romania, the young cellist Ștefan Cazacu has added two international distinctions to his palmares: first prize at the International Danube Festival - Donaufest (Ulm, Germany - 2022) and third prize at the International Competition George Enescu (Bucharest, Romania, 2020-2021 edition).

 

Ștefan Cazacu has a visiting card that represents the basis of a successful career: a complex education achieved in his early life in a family of famous musicians, academic musical studies attended in Bucharest (Romania) and Vienna (Austria), and prizes at various national and international competitions. He has been appreciated - as a soloist or as a member of the Romanian Youth Orchestra - in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Republic of Moldova, Turkey, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, China, United States of America.

 

His story in the realm of music is written along with his travelling companion – a collection cello played by Ștefan Cazacu since he was 15. The instrument was produced over 100 years ago (in 1917), in Turin, Italy, by the string-instrument maker Georg Ullman.

 

 

International Recognition

In recitals or concerts - as a soloist or as a member of the Romanian Youth Orchestra - Ștefan Cazacu has been applauded on important European stages, such as the Musikverein and the Konzerthaus - Vienna, the Philharmonic Hall in Paris, the Konzerthaus and the Philharmonic Hall in Berlin, the Elbphilarmonie Hamburg, the Auditorium Parco della Musica - Rome, the Philharmonic Halls in Skopje, Sofia, Belgrade. He has also performed on Romanian stages, such as the Romanian Athenaeum, Sala Radio, Sala Palatului, Bucharest National Opera, and in the halls of philharmonic orchestras throughout the country.

 

He has participated in events such as the Mahler Festival in Toblach - Italy, Milan Youth Orchestra Festival, Ravello Festival, and the Young Euro Classic Festival - Germany.

 

He has collaborated as a soloist with all the symphony orchestras in Romania - including the George Enescu Philharmonic, the National Radio Orchestra, and the Radio Chamber Orchestra - but also with the Philharmonic of Chisinau (Republic of Moldova) or with the Alicante Youth Orchestra – Spain. He has performed under well-known conductors: Cristian Mandeal, Horia Andreescu, Cristian Măcelaru, Camil Marinescu, and Theo Wolters.

 

Ștefan Cazacu’s talent has been rewarded with numerous prizes, such as first prize at the International Cello Competition in Liezen, Austria (2008), second prize at the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition in Zagreb, Croatia (2008), Great Prize at the National Selection for the Eurovision Young Musicians Contest, in Bucharest, Romania (2010) and many others.