Florin Simioanca

Florin Simioanca is a graduate of the Bowling Green State University (M.M. Viola performance and M.M.E. Strings) and of the "George Dima" Academy of Music in Cluj, Romania with a double major in viola pedagogy and performance. Simioanca was raised in Cluj, Romania, where he began to play violin when he was six years old. He attended a special school for the arts and for the next twelve years he studied violin as a principal instrument, piano as a secondary instrument, music theory and music history. Simioanca continued his musical studies at the Music Academy in Cluj, where he studied viola with Albert Derzsi, Marius Suarasan and Chamber Music with Ilse Laszlo-Herbert and Nicusor Silaghi. He was employed by the National Romanian Opera Cluj where he spent eight years playing as an Assistant Principal in viola section and Principal Violist in the Romanian National Chamber Opera Orchestra. During these years, he traveled around Europe and Asia performing with many artists and conductors. For several years he served as a member of Europa Symphony Orchestra in Vienna, Austria and in 2000 he served as Principal Violist in the San Gimignano Orchestra, Italy. Simioanca obtained his Masters degree in Viola Performance and Masters degree in Music Education at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, US where he studied viola with Nancy Buck and Eva Stern and Chamber Music with Vasile Beluska, Dr. Alan Smith and Dr. Penny Kruse. He also participated in workshops with prestigious artists and teachers such as Paul Neubauer (New York Philharmonic), Caroline Coade (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Misha Galaganov (Texas Christian University), Christine Rutledge (The University of Iowa). As a violist Simioanca played with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Lima Symphony Orchestra and in 2002 he was a member of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. During his orchestral career he had the opportunity to perform on the stage with great artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Mstislav Rostropovich and Lynn Harrell. Simioanca appeared in several solo and chamber music recitals in the United States and Europe. He is also a founding member of Hava Duo. Simioanca is a professional musician with vast experience in playing in professional orchestras, and in violin/viola teaching.