ION BOGDAN STEFANESCU
Flautist
Soloist with the “George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra (Bucharest-Romania)
Professor of Flute at the National University of Music (Bucharest-Romania)
Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA)
Member of the British Flute Society (BFS)
Member of the National Flute Association USA (NFA)
Member of the Romanian Writers Union (USR)
Member of International Federation of Jurnalists (IFJ)
“I have known Mr. Ștefănescu for nearly 25 years. He is an outstanding musician and teacher. He has assisted me in many of my classes in Europe. I have watched his progress, technically and musically over the years where he has grown to be a very mature musician of the highest quality. I listened to him on the many CD’s he has made during this period and I was very impressed with his beautiful tone, flawless technique and imaginative choice of repertoire…”
Sir JAMES GALWAY
”Ionuț was one of the friendliest of my students, and among the most gifted. He was already an accomplished player when I met him, and we spent many happy hours together both at the University, and later when I was a guest in his home. His musical tastes are wide and creative, exceeding the limits of my own skills and interests, but always convincing and appropriate in his performances both solo, orchestral, and in collaborative chamber music. A very remarkable talent”.
Alexander Murray
“Ionuț Bogdan Ștefănescu, master of the flute family, quite a big family today, playing all these instruments with a lot of skill and sovereign musical science, is one of those artists who harmoniously combines the creative imagination with the spontaneous communication skills and a deep sensitivity of tones…”
Aurel Stroe
Studies:
Doctor in Music – Bucharest National University of Music (2002)
Master of Music Degree – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA – leading
Professor Alexander Murray (1995 – 1996)
Bucharest National University of Music – Flute Section (1993)
George Enescu High School of Music, Bucharest (1987)
Special courses with:
James Galway, Alain Marion, Wolfgang Schultz, Pierre Yves Artaud
Artistic activity:
Début at the age of 14, as soloist at the Athenaeum Hall (with “Il Cardellino”, by Antonio Vivaldi). Since 1983 up to the present, he performed over a thousand concerts and recitals, in Romania and abroad.
Laureate of many national and international competitions:
– Revelation of the Year 2024 for Flaut Power Ensemble, granted by UCRRM (Musicrit Gala)
– Constantin Brâncuși Prize For Excellency in Culture, granted by The National Grand Loge from Romania and Romanian Academy, 2018
– Medal and Diploma for performance of Concerto by André Jolivet, at the 21st edition of ”George Enescu Festival” granted by UNIMIR (The Romanian Union of Interprets), 2013
– The Medal of Cultural Merit, Order of Chevalier, conferred by the President of Romania for Excellency in Culture , 2011
– Romanian Music Magazine Prize for Interpretation, 2009
– Composer Union Prize for Trio Contraste, 2009
– Composer Union Prize for Solo Activity, 2007
– The Medal of Cultural Merit conferred by the President of Romania for Excellency in Music , 2004
– Liones Club Prize for Best Performance in James Galway Seminar, 2003
– Prize of George Dima Academy of Music, Cluj, Romania, 1987
– First Prize at Concertino Competition – Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1986
– Diploma of Merit – Elite Chamber Music , G.B.Viotti, Vercelli – Italy, 1984
– First Prize at the National Flute Competition, Romania, 1985
Participated in many national and international music Festivals:
Chișinău New Music Festival, 2025, 2023, 1990
“George Enescu” Festival, 2023, 2021, 2019 (solist), 2017, 2015, 2013 (solist with de Osaka ”Harmonius” Orchestra, cond. Naoto Otomo); 2009 – two recitals; 2007 – soloist and conductor with Radio Chamber Orchestra; recitals for next editions – 2005 , 2003, 1985
International Music Days ”Liviu Dănceanu”, Bacău, 2019
Musical Holidays, Piatra Neamț, 2017
NFA Convention, Washington, 2015
Intrada International Festival, Timișoara, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
British Flute Society Convention, Manchester, 2012
Culture Escape, Switzerland, 2007
Zeit für Neue Musik, Bayreuth, Germania, 2006
Steingreber Festival, Bayreuth, Germania, 2006
“George Enescu” Ferstival, München, Mannheim, Germany, 2005 and Strasbourg, France, 2006
Music Fest, Luxemburg, 2005
Profil Festival, Bucureşti, 2005 şi 2006
Wien Modern, Viena, Austria, 2004
Meridian Festival, 1988 până în prezent
NFA Convention, Kanssas City, SUA, 1994
International Flute Convention, München, Germania, 1991
New Music Festival, Darmstadt, Germania, 1990
The Youth Ibternational Festival, Phenian, North Koreea, 1989
The Internetional Week of New Music, Bucharest, all editions
He is a member ”George Enescu” Wind Qunitet (2003) and of the three most important Romanian contemporary music groups: ProContemporania (1990), Trio Contraste (2000) and Profil (2003). Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu is a founder member of Flautarchi Quartet (2004) Bohema Trio (2007), Silvestri Ensemble (2019) Trio Affresco (2020); also founder of Barock Orchestra (2006), Flaut Power (2016) and Trio Brio (2025).
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; DiGi24; Money Chanel
CD & DVD:
(ub)MASKed – Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu & Flaut Power, U.C.M.R., 2024
Violeta Dinescu – Vuza Canons, Gutingi 2023
Klangvisionen für Flöte(n), Gutingi, 2023
Musique pour descender 3, Electrecord, 2020
Ansamblul Profil – ”Sequentia”, UNMB și ed. Muzicală, 2019
Plânsuri / Shades of Crying Moods, UNMB și Editura Muzicală, 2019
Octavian Nemescu, prod. UCIMR, 2019
Blue Drops, A & A Records, 2019
SIMN 2018 – CD2, Radio România,.2018
SIMN 2017, Radio România, 2017
Twenty Shades of Music, E-media, 2017
Visători la steau singurătății, Casa Radio, 2016
Șarpelecupene, Sargasso, 2016
Dialog, gutingi, 2016
Preschimbarea la față, CMN, 2016
Flutes Play, gutingi, 2015
Romanian composers and performers in spectacular hypostases, UCMR, 2015
100 Hours – A & A Records, 2014
Sieben Rosen hat der Strauch, gutingi, 2014
Flautul de aur, Casa Radio, 2013
Werke von Horst Lohse – Trio Contraste, Cavalli Records, 2013
Der Schlüssel der Träume, gutingi, 2013
Carmen Petra Basacopol – Portret musical, Casa Radio, 2013
Ce vă spune Trio Contraste? – Brumar, 2013
Forgetmenot, gutingi, 2012
Yuri Botnari @ George Enesc Philharmonic Orchestra, Sony DADC Austria, 2012
Visători la steaua singurătăţii, DVD produs de Fundaţia ABI, 2012
Securi decapitate – Tracus Arte, 2012
Octavian Nemescu – Musique pour décendre, Nicklas Records, 2011
Cuvăntul de trecere – Gr.Ph.Telemann – Integrala Sonatelor pentru 2 flaute, Tracus Arte, 2011
27 British Composers, Casa Radio, 2011
Tabu – Violeta Dinescu / Trio Contraste. Ed gutingi, 2010
Un compozitor – Un interpret, Uniunea Compozitorilor, 2009
Povestea unei aripi, Editura Muzicală, 2008
Apfelwürmer, Cavalli Records, Germania, 2007
Musique pour réveil, Electrecord, 2007
Tabu Suite, Schweitzer Radio, 2007
Composer’s Dialogue, Institutul Polonez București, 2007
Aurel Stroe – Kammermusik 1949 – 1984, ed. MuMu, LC 15154, 2007
Jazz Poems – Inside Stories, TVR Media, 2006
George Enescu – Chamber Symphony, Arte Nova, 2006
Circuit (flaut solo), gutingi, Germania, 2005
Uroboros (flaut solo), Editura Muzicală, Bucureşti, 2005
Wandlungen (Trio Contraste), Leondra, Germania, 2005
Sonnengesang (Trio Contraste), gutingi, Germania, 2004
Tineri artiști in dialog – Profil Festival, UCMR-ADA, 2004
14th International New Music Week, UCMR-ADA, 2004
Pâlnia şi Stamate, Casa Radio, 2004
Romanian Women Composers (ProContemporania), Arfa – UCMR 2003
MC – Muzică Clasică Piese celebre, Brilliant Classics, 2003
Scarlatti & Beethoven (George Enescu Quintet), AIX Records, SUA, 2002
J.S.Bach, AIX Records, SUA, 2002
Stravinsky – Firebird / Ravel – Bolero, AIX Records, 2002
Mixtures I (George Enescu Quintet), AIX Records, SUA, 2002
Athenaeum vol.I – Iris, 2000
George Enescu – Dixtuorul (Bucharest George Enescu Philharmonic), Ed. Art Nova, 1999
George Enescu – Simfonia de cameră (Bucharest George Enescu Philharmonic) Art Nova, 1999
Rock Bands – Pro Musica & Accent, Electrecord, 1987
Compositions:
The Mirror with Two Reflections for flute, saxophone and tape, world premiere at Cluj Modern Festival, 2024
Film music for The dogmatic egg and the wonderful seed: Silviu Oravitzan, director Ioan Cărmăzan, 2024
Film music for The life of a single woman, director Ioan Cărmăzan, 2024
Tilincaison for tilincă & tape, 2022
Dialog în contre-jour, on a text by Nichita Stănescu, forl five flutes and tape, 2022
Wings of moon for flute, tape and flute orchesatra, 2022
Invocation for Alto flute, tape flute orchesatra and percussion, 2022
Broken canon for five flutes & tape, 2022
On the way back to Itaca for Alto flute and Flute ensemble, world premiere in Sibiu Philharmonic, Meridian Festival, 2019
Original music for “Haches décapitées” by Matei Vișniec, Ed. Tracus Arte, 2012
Theatre music for ”Nobody is perfect”, director Radu Beligan, 2010
Deep Voices Praying – for two bass flutes, first premier – SIMN, 2009
Dizzy Flutes – for 4 flutes, first premier – SIMN, 2009
Theatre music for ”Strangers in the night”, director Radu Beligan, 2008
MAMBOlero – percussion and tape, first premier – SIMN, 2007
Pianissimo Summer Dream – Percussion Ansamble – first premier – Lausanne Conservatoire, 16 noiembrie 2005
Original Music for “The Funnel and Stamate” – Urmuz, regia Gavril Pinte, production S.R.R., 2004
Original Music for Ilie Constantin poetry, director Cristian Munteanu, production S.R.R., 2004
Opera libretist:
”A Life in a Moment”, music by Gabriel Mălăncioiu
“Blue Night”, music by Diana Rotaru
“W” – after “Stage Director” by W.A.Mozart
Published Books:
Thoughts in the light of blood, Charmides Publishing, 2025
On the way back to Itaka, National Foundation for Science and Art, 2022
Encounters in Musical Code, Music Publishing House, 2022
The Mirror with Two Reflections, Military Publishing House, 2021
Sewn-Up Smile, National Foundation for Science and Art, 2020
Signs – Touches, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2018
A verse that leaves death speechless, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2016
Soulful Shout, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2014
Six scripts looking for a director, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2013
HIM, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2013
Blood Voices, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2012
The Passing Word, Tracus Arte Publishing House, 2011
Chage Unchaged, Opera Magna Publishing House, 2010
Of Stones and Birds, Axa Publishing House, 2006
The Ages of Flute, Libra Publishing House, 2005
Game of Mirrors, Libra Publishing House, 2004
His biography is included in:
Men of Achievement (International Biographical Centre, Cambrige, 1988)
Five Thousand Personalities of the World (Ed. Two, The American Biographical Institute, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, 1989).
Who’s Who in Romania (Ed. Pegasus Press, Bucureşti, 2002)
Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu performs on Muramatsu Flute 18k
address: Bld. Aviatorilor 52, ap.7, sector 1, 011864, Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: ionutbogdan.stefanescu@gmail.com; www.ionbogdanstefanescu.ro