Radu Paponiu

Romanian violinist and conductor Radu Paponiu began studying the violin at age seven, moving on to study privately with Carmen Runceanu and Stefan Gheorghiu After coming to the United States at the invitation of the Perlman Music Program, Radu continued his studies at the Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California, where he earned both a Bachelor of Music degree and an Artist Diploma degree in violin performance, working privately with Robert Lipsett.

Winner of the “Rotari Atheneum” prize, Radu has made solo violin appearances with orchestras such as the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, Bucharest Conservatory Orchestra, “Ion Dumitrescu” Philharmonic Orchestra, Lyceum Strings Orchestra, Central European Initiative Youth Orchestra, and Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra. As a recitalist, Radu has performed in Thayer Hall and Mayman Hall at the Colburn School, Romanian Atheneum, History Museum of Bucharest, and the Cultural Center of Arcus.

Radu has been a guest artist for music festivals in the United States, Canada, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Hungary, including the Perlman Music Program, Banff Chamber Music Workshop, and the Aspen Music Festival. He has performed chamber music with artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Martin Beaver, Moses Pogossian, Clive Greensmith, Merry Peckham, and members of the Ebène String Quartet. Radu is former Concertmaster of the Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Culver City Chamber Orchestra, Central European Initiative Youth Orchestra, as well as Assistant Concertmaster of the Aspen Chamber Symphony.  Radu has also participated in numerous masterclasses with artists such as Robert Mann, Donald Weilerstein, Christian Altenburger, Alexander Arenkov, as well as members of the Tokyo, and American string quartets.

Mr. Paponiu recently completed his Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he studied with Hugh Wolff. While in Boston, Radu was also Conductor Apprentice with the Handel&Haydn Society, working closely with Harry Christophers and Richard Egarr. During the 2016-2017 season, Radu guest conducted the Naples Philharmonic, the North Carolina Symphony, and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, as well as participated in a conducting workshop with the New World Symphony lead by Michael Tilson Thomas. Additionally, Radu has participated for two consecutive summers in the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen, where he furthered his studies under the guidance of Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff, Leonard Slatkin, Hugh Wolff, Patrick Summers, and Frederico Cortese. Radu currently resides in Naples, Florida, where he serves as Assistant Conductor for the Naples Philharmonic, and Director of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.