The student at a high school in Pitești and only 16, the violinist Sofia Butaru is the only one in Romania that was selected in the Youth Orchestra of the European Union, one of the most appreciated symphonic orchestras in the world.
Sofia Butaru is 16 years old Photo Personal Archive
The selections lasted a total of two months, participating in over 3,000 competitors in all the instruments, of which 1,300 violins. Of the 1,300 violins were selected only 45 candidates from all over Europe, Sofia Butaru counting among them. And the final results were announced earlier this year.
“From 12 years I was selected to participate in a German youth orchestra in which the age limit was 15 years. I liked it very much and since then I have discovered my passion to work and establish connections and friends with colleagues from orchestras. I am constantly in contact with them. The Youth Orchestra of the European Union caught my attention because the auditions are given in 27 countries and finally 100 members are selected. It seemed like a challenge and I succeeded from the first, especially since I was not 16 years old at the time of the audition ”said Sofia Butaru for “Adevărul”.
The auditions were held at the Romanian Athenaeum and consisted of the interpretation of a piece of virtuosity and 6 orchestral passages. And Sofia Butaru, a student in the 10th grade at the Dinu Lipatti High School of Arts, impressed her jurors with her exceptional talent and virtuosity.
“I was accepted to participate in the summer tour, namely July 14-August2, concerts in 8 European countries. As far as I know we will stay in Austria for three weeks for daily rehearsals, and then we will travel through Europe to hold concerts. Through this result I have shown that I am on the right track and I will become a professional musician faster than I imagined ”adds Sofia Butaru.
Created almost five decades ago, in 1976, the Youth Orchestra of the European Union is based in Ferrara, in Italy. The members spend this famous orchestra internationally 2-3 years on average, and then 90% of them reach professional musicians.
And this success of Sofia Butaru is not the only one from the beginning of this year. Sofia Butaru was selected with other very talented violinists in the Sonoro program, a project that promotes excellence in performance. The Sonoro program addresses the Romanian musicians, between the ages of 14 and 30, and was initiated with the purpose of creating, in the long term, a musical elite, continuing the approach of the Sonoro festival to include Romania in the peak circuit of musical life. European. Young people admitted after the selection process will have the opportunity to study room music along with international artists and teachers from different music universities in Europe. At the end of each working session, young people will interpret the works studied in the workshop, along with their teachers, in concerts specially organized in the country or outside the country.
“I started studying violin in play with my grandmother at 5”
It should also be noted that Sofia Butaru was, at just 15 years old, the youngest violin in history from the Pitesti Philharmonic.
“I am very happy with her success, considering that Sofia is the youngest violin in the history of the Pitesti Philharmonic. It happened when Sofia was only 15 years old. Here is the international appreciation now. It is a great success, taking into account the fierce competition. I congratulate her and told her to remain as serious, involved and modest. I would like to one day, Sofia would be the concert-mast of the Pitesti Philharmonic ”says Gabriel Niță, the manager of the Pitesti Philharmonic.
It should also be said that Sofia Butaru’s talent was also noted by Jonathan Tetelman, one of the most appreciated tenors in the world, on the occasion of a concert he held at the end of January with the Pitești Philharmonic.
Tenor Jonathan Tetelman with Sofia Butaru PHOTO Personal Archive
The exceptional violinist young man comes from a family of musicians who have breathed his passion for music. He started playing the violin at the age of just 5. Sofia Butaru started studying the violin at the Dinu Lipatti High School in Pitesti since class I.
“I started studying violin in play with my grandmother at 5. Being a violin teacher, she knew how to convey my love for this instrument, which from the beginning seemed very attractive! It seemed like a challenge, although it was very difficult because I was very small and I wanted to play more. Now, my daily study program is 4-5 hours, I have a timetable at school and I would like to have more time to study. I try to combine them all as best I can ”tells Sofia Butaru.
The extremely talented violinist has so far won dozens of prestigious competitions in Romania, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Spain and the United States.
Two years ago, Sofia Butaru won the trophy in an instrumental interpretation contest in Vienna, the capital of Austria, being called to play in the gala: “I interpreted the musician of George Enescu and the 13 paganini whim towards the public’s delight, pieces with which I was very successful!”
And Sofia already knows where she will study after graduating from high school.
“The Romanian Music School is very good, I will take the admission exam at the National Academy of Music” Gheorghe Dima “in Cluj and in parallel I will also study at a music university in Europe”confesses Sofia.
