
Sebastian Vîrtosu
Sebastian Vîrtosu has been a founding member of the Gaudeamus String Quartet in 1987. He studied cello with C. Constantin, M. Manaf, Gh. Rus and D. Prelipcean, then chamber music with D. Prelipcean (“VOCES” quartet) , W. Levin (“La salle” quartet), H. Maguire (“Allegri” quartet), N. Brainin, M. Lovett, S. Niessel (“Amadeus” quartet), Th. Kakuska, V. Erben (Alban Berg Quartet), St. Metz (Orlando Quartet), M. Skampa (Smetana Quartet), V. Berlinsky (Borodin Quartet).
Over time, he has received numerous awards for his musical activity, most notably the “Rovere d’Oro” Grand Prize at the San Bartolomeo al Mare International Chamber Music Competition, Italy (2000, with the “Gaudeamus” Quartet), 2nd prize (first prize not awarded) at the International Chamber Music Competition “V. Bellini ”, Caltanisseta, Sicily, Italy (1995, with the“ Gaudeamus ”quartet), Special Jury Prize at the“ Mozart ”International String Quartet Competition, Salzburg, Austria (1995, with the“ Gaudeamus ”quartet).
He is an Associate Professor, PhD at the George Enescu National University of Arts in Iași and has given masterclasses as a visiting professor at the Royal Conservatoire (Birmingham, UK) and the Academy of Music, Dance and Visual Arts (Plovdiv, Bulgaria).