Mihai Craioveanu, professor of violin in the department of music at Hope College, was invited to perform a series of solo performances at the Shanghai International Festival in China in October.
The festival hosted artists and performers from 22 countries and four continents. Craioveanu performed as part of 10 concerts from Oct. 13 to Oct. 24, including the highly acclaimed opening ceremony concert which was broadcast on the Chinese television as well as worldwide on satellite channels.
Hailed by the prestigious magazine "The Strad," as "stunning... brilliant," Craioveanu, who has been a member of the Hope faculty since 1992, has concertized to great acclaim throughout the world. Renowned pianist Radu Lupu and violinist Jamie Laredo have described him as "very impressive" and a "superb violinist." "Strad" magazine critics described his Carnegie Hall debut concert as "fresh and distinguished with a keen appreciation of proper style."
The "Washington Post" has described Mihai Craioveanu's playing as "Dramatic, nuanced and playful. His violin became his voice. Craioveanu ensured that it was the music, and not the musician, that came first."
Craioveanu has performed sold-out concerts in legendary concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Atheneum Hall in Bucharest, and the internationally televised "Hour of Power" program at the renowned Crystal Cathedral in California. He also performed on the prestigious television program "Joy of Music" hosted by the famed organist Diane Bish, broadcast nationally in the United States and worldwide.
Craioveanu has appeared at renowned international music festivals such as Edinburgh (Scotland), Banff (Canada), and Bodensee (Germany). His performances have been broadcast on major American television networks, as well as European and Australian television. He has been featured on the international radio stations Free Europe and Voice of America.
Craioveanu's interest in contemporary music has led to world-premiere performances of several works written for him by American composers. His first compact disc recording of violin masterpieces, titled "Introducing Violinist Mihai Craioveanu," was presented to the public during his highly acclaimed concert tour of Spain. The disc is featured on various radio stations around the globe, and is distributed worldwide on www.amazon.com
Much in demand as an artist-teacher, Craioveanu has given guest concerts and master classes at major music schools including Northwestern University, Interlochen Arts Academy, University of Illinois, The American String Workshop, University of Nevada, University of Iowa, the Ohio State University, Bucharest National University of Music and the International Summer Master Classes at the University of Transylvania, in Romania. In addition, he was invited to present lectures, concerts, master classes and judge competitions at regional and national conferences of the American String Teacher Association and Music Teacher National Association.
Craioveanu was educated at the University of Music in Bucharest, and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where he studied on a British Council scholarship and was a winner of the coveted international Concert Recital Diploma. He was also awarded scholarships to study at the International Summer Music Institute at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Weimar, Germany, and the International Youth Music Festival in Brussels, Belgium.