Romanian solo pianist Eliza Puchianu performed last night at the Athenaeum. Puchianu is a phenomenal musician who’s performed throughout Europe and the US. She “focuses on lesser-known piano repertoires, especially composers from the 18th-19th-20th centuries”.
In 2006, at the age of 16, she made her debut as a soloist with the Bucharest Filarmonica George Enescu. Eliza has won numerous awards, including first prizes at 11 national and international competitions, and second and third prizes at 10 national competitions. She’s performed at Boston Symphony Hall and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and in Paris, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, and Vienna.
She graduated from Dublin Royal Irish Academy of Music. The same year, she won the 2014 Yamaha Scholarship for Pianists.
Accompaniment
Eliza’s accomplishments “extend to the field of accompaniment”. She’s collaborated with many festivals and competitions, including the Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland, Bucharest George Enescu National Competition, and the Edinburgh International Festival. She was selected to accompany the String Training Education Program (STEP) at Boston Symphony Hall.
Teaching
Her teaching experience includes positions at Leesson Park School of Music Ireland and Boston’s Steinert M. & Sons Piano Academy. She was a jury member for the Allegretto, Lirika, and Brownissimo Piano Competitions in Bucharest.
Currently, Eliza has expanded her online teaching activities within the organization Musicians for the World. As a non-profit organization, it’s “committed to empowering vulnerable communities around the world through free virtual music education”. During her association with Musicians for the World, Eliza has “collaborated with high-performing students from South America”.
During the covid pandemic, Eliza taught online courses. She “mourns the fate of independent musicians, who have been severely affected by the coronavirus, and hopes to find support in the community, and the strength to remain optimistic”.
Program
The program included:
I was happy to attend another evening of quality classical music in Bucharest!