The piano world has suffered a loss this week with news of the tragic death of 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.

Publications

Melanie Spanswick has written and published a wide range of courses, anthologies, examination syllabuses, and text books, including Play it again: PIANO (published by Schott Music). This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.

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