The piano world has suffered a loss this week with news of the tragic death of excellent Romanian pianist, Mihaela Ursuleasa, who was just 33 years old. It is believed she died of a brain haemorrhage at her apartment in Vienna.

Mihaela Ursuleasa was born in Brasov, Romania.  Her father was a jazz musician and her mother a singer. She began to play the piano at the age of five and was giving concerts by the time she was nine. As a teenager she won second prize at the International Piano Competition in  Senigallia. Then on the advice of Claudio Abbado, Mihaela studied with Prof. Heinz  Medjimorec at the Vienna Conservatory. She won the Clara Haskil Competition aged 16 and in 1999, she  graduated with a diploma cum laude.

Ursuleasa has appeared with many major orchestras including the Los Angeles  Philharmonic, Concertgebouw, Orchestre National de Paris, Mozarteum Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Bamberg  Symphony, Dresden Philharmonic, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin, Weimar Staatskapelle. Conductors she has worked with include Daniele Gatti, Kurt Sanderling, Sir Colin Davis,  Sir Neville Marriner, Neeme  Järvi, and Osmo Vänska. She also made frequent festival and chamber music appearances.

Mihaela Ursuleasa was awarded the Echo Klassik award for her debut album Piano & Forte. She released her second album, Romanian Rhapsody, last year. Mihaela leaves a 7 year old daughter.

Here are some memories……..

My publications:

For much more information about how to practice piano repertoire, take a look at my two-book piano course, Play it again: PIANO (Schott). Covering a huge array of styles and genres, 49 progressive pieces from approximately Grade 1 – 8 level are featured, with at least two pages of practice tips for every piece. A convenient and beneficial course for students of any age, with or without a teacher, and it can also be used alongside piano examination syllabuses too.

You can find out more about my other piano publications and compositions here.