Mentoring Project
„Paths to Mastery”
7th Edition
Bușteni, 21–27 September 2026
Artistic excellence grows through inspiring encounters.
The mentoring project “Paths to Mastery” continues its mission of connecting young Romanian musicians with leading European centres of artistic education. The seventh edition of the intensive courses brings the renowned Finnish pianist Prof. Henri Sigfridsson, professor at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, to Romania.Through this new collaboration, participants will have the opportunity to benefit from the experience of an internationally respected musician and educator — in an environment dedicated to artistic deepening, the exchange of ideas, and professional development. Prof. Henri Sigfridsson’s involvement underlines the European orientation of the project “Paths to Mastery” and its ongoing commitment to creating valuable and lasting connections between young Romanian artists and the international music world.The final concerts of this edition will take place on 25 September at the Goethe-Institut Bucharest and on 26 September at the Casa Artiștilor Bușteni. The audience will have the opportunity to experience the results of the intensive study period and to encounter young musicians at the beginning of promising artistic paths.
Course Professors:
Prof. Henri Sigfridsson
Piano
Henri Sigfridsson is one of the most renowned Finnish pianists of his generation. As a soloist and chamber musician, he regularly appears on major international stages and at prestigious festivals. Since 2011, he has been Professor of Piano at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen.His musical education took him from the Conservatory in Turku and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki to the classes of the renowned pedagogues Pavel Gililov in Cologne and
Lazar Berman in Weimar.His numerous international distinctions include First Prize at the International Franz Liszt Competition in Weimar, as well as First Prize, the Audience Prize, and the Chamber Music Prize at the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Bonn in 2005.
Prof. André Parfenov
Piano and Chamber Music
André Parfenov is a permanent member of the mentoring team at the International Artists’ House and serves as artistic director of the support programme “Paths to Mastery.”An exceptional pianist and composer, he graduated from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. A versatile artistic personality, he teaches at the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig.He leads the sessions on improvisation, accompaniment and stylistic interpretation.
Iuliana Münch
Violine and Chamber Music
As a violinist with an active international concert career, Iuliana Münch is co-founder of the Parfenov Duo and initiator of Casa Artiștilor Bușteni.With a profound pedagogical vision and an authentic commitment to young musicians, she developed the mentoring concept of the course.Within the chamber music workshops, she guides the artistic process together with André Parfenov.
Prof. Stefan Cazacu
cello
Cellist Ștefan Cazacu, whose playing is distinguished by exceptional refinement, is acclaimed on renowned stages throughout Europe — both as a soloist and as
a chamber music partner.With his impressive stage presence and extraordinary depth of expression, he combines his international concert career with a professorship at the National University of Music Bucharest. Within the course, he will work intensively with the young cellists.
The International Artists’ House Bușteni
At the heart of this project is a very special place, founded by Iuliana Münch Geambașu. During the summer, it becomes a living artistic laboratory – a place of encounter between generations, culture, talent and vocation.With each edition, “Paths to Mastery” becomes a bridge between worlds: a living symbol of equal access to artistic excellence and an important point of reference for the concrete, profound and sustainable support of young talents.
Created and led by violinist Iuliana Münch Geambașu, this transformative programme offers young musicians a real platform for their artistic journey.
Final concerts:
A project supported by:
MULTICLUB ROTARY ROMÂNIA
In collaboration with:
Sponsors:
Principal sponsor:
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