Hope College freshman Titus Munteanu is
looking forward to participating in his first Hope College
Musical Showcase on Monday, April 9, at 8 p.m. at DeVos Hall
in Grand Rapids.

Munteanu, an international student from Romania who is in his 13th year of studying the violin, will be performing three of the six "Roumanian Dances" composed by modern Hungarian composer, Bela Bartok, in 1917. The work is a collection of authentic dances from various parts of Romania.

"I selected the piece because of the connection to
my culture, and because of its appropriate length," Munteanu
said. The piece, a popular work in the standard repertoire,
is available in a solo piano and orchestral version in
addition to the violin and piano version that will be part
of the Musical Showcase.

Munteanu is thankful to have the chance to study at Hope
College. He was presented with the opportunity when Mihai
Craioveanu, associate professor of music, visited his
school, the Brasov School of Music and Arts, and offered him
an audition for a music scholarship at Hope. "I would like
to thank Mihai--he is responsible for my coming here,"
Munteanu said.

Craioveanu is now Munteanu's violin instructor,
and has high praise for his student's ability. "Titus
Munteanu is an exceptionally talented young violinist," he
said.

While in Romania, Munteanu received several prizes
in various national violin competitions, and was selected to
play in a number of international violin master classes
presented by renowned violinists in Europe.

In his first year at Hope, Munteanu has already
established himself as one of the college's finest
musicians. He was one of the winners of the Concerto/Aria
competition sponsored by the department of music, and was a
featured soloist with the Hope College Symphonette in the
group's spring tour in Canada in March.

When asked about his future hopes and goals for
music, Munteanu feels that it's "too soon" to commit to a
single plan, although he acknowledges a desire to play
professionally. When it comes to playing the violin, he
says without worry, "it is what I was born to do."

Tickets for the showcase are $10 each, and may be
purchased through the Office of Public Relations at Hope
College. The office, open from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to
5 p.m. Monday through Friday, is located on the second floor
of the DeWitt Center and may be called at (616) 395-7860.

Tickets may also be purchased over the counter at
the Grand Center Ticket Office for $10 each. The Grand
Center Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition, tickets may be ordered by phone, and
charged to any major credit card, through Ticketmaster by
calling (616) 456-3333. A service fee is added to the cost
of each ticket purchased this way.

Related News

Disability Awareness Week

The 13th annual Disability AwarenessWeek at Hope College is running Monday-Friday, April 2-6.The week is an effort to promote understanding ofpersons with physical and learning disabilities, and willfeature a variety of activities open to the public inaddition to those for the campus community. Admission isfree to all events.The week's activities will begin Monday morningwith a wheelchair challenge that will have invited membersof the college's student body, faculty and staff undergo amobility impairment simulation.On Monday, April 2, at 7 p.m., the RISE campusgroup will host Terry A. DeYoung, managing editor of "TheChurch Herald," in a discussion of disability and faith. The event will be held in the lounge of Cook Hall, locatedat 115 E. 10th St.On Tuesday, April 3, participants will be able tosimulate different disabilities, including mobilityimpairment, hearing impairment and learning disabilities, aswell as have an opportunity to gather information about anumber of hidden disabilities. The simulations will runfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the main floor lounge of the DeWitt Center, located on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street.On Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m., Kristen Gray andLouise Shumaker of the Hope staff will discuss "friending,"examining the impact of Shumaker's vision impairment ontheir friendship. Gray is assistant dean of health andcounseling, and director of the Counseling Center; andShumaker is director of disability services. Gray andShumaker will also explore the effects of a variety ofdisabilities on social interaction. The presentation willbe in room B27 in the Peale Science Center, located onCollege Avenue at 12th Street.On Tuesday, April 3, at 9 p.m., a descriptivevideo version of the film "The Sixth Sense" will bepresented in the DeWitt Center Kletz. The video, designedfor audiences with vision impairments, includes audiodescription of action on-screen. The Kletz will providefree popcorn and soft drinks.There will be a poetry reading on Wednesday, April4, at 9 p.m. in room B27 of the Peale Science Center. Members of the Hope community will read their own work aswell as works by others that discuss disabilities.The week's keynote address will be delivered onThursday, April 5, at 7 p.m. by Lydia Graber in CookAuditorium of the De Pree Art Center, located on ColumbiaAvenue at 12th Street. Graber, who portrayed an Ewok in thefilm "Return of the Jedi," will explore humor anddisability.On Thursday, April 5, at 9 p.m., a descriptivevideo version of the film "Shakespeare in Love" will beshown in the DeWitt Center Kletz. As with the film onTuesday, free popcorn and soft drinks will be provided.The week will close with an ice cream social on Friday, April 6, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the DeWitt CenterKletz.

Showcase Features Romanian Work

Hope College freshman Titus Munteanu islooking forward to participating in his first Hope CollegeMusical Showcase on Monday, April 9, at 8 p.m. at DeVos Hallin Grand Rapids.