Hailed as “a startling and authentic pianist displaying rich imagination and brilliant vigor, whose precision and splendor of keyboard sound certainly inspire a transcendental reality” (The Musical News Journal, Bucharest), a pianist who “shines in his ability to capture the mood, the color, the very character of each piece while still maintaining a sense of the whole” (Fanfare), Silvan Negruţiu has performed on major international stages, from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to Ireland's National Concert Hall, the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, the Xi’an Concert Hall in China, the Showa Recital Hall in Tokyo, and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
A laureate of numerous international piano competitions, including the Rome and Salerno (Italy), the Seiler (Bulgaria), the Feis Ceoil (Ireland), and the Konzerteum (Greece), Silvan Negruțiu has appeared as soloist with prestigious orchestras, such as the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Alicante Philharmonic, George Enescu Philharmonic, and Dublin Symphony Orchestra. He is the recipient of the 2016 Rising Star Award from Shenandoah Conservatory, the 2009 Gaiety Award in Ireland, the Romanian Government Fellowship in 2007, the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research Award of Excellence in 2002, and the 2001 Eugen Barbu Award for excellence in performing activity.
As an artist, a teacher, and a scholar, Silvan Negruțiu embraces the exploration of innovative music pedagogy, rare piano literature, and the advancement of arts entrepreneurship in higher education. He is often a featured speaker and performer at regional, national, and international conferences, including those presented by the Music Teachers National Association, National Association of Music Merchants, and College Music Society. He holds piano performance degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia (D.M.A.), the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Dublin City University in Ireland (M.M.), the Romanian National University of Music (B.M.), and the Dinu Lipatti Music School in Bucharest, where he studied with John O’Conor, Viniciu Moroianu, and Magda Stănescu.
Silvan Negruțiu serves as the Karen and Michael Kitt Endowed Professor in Piano, Associate Professor, and Director of Piano Studies in the Kitt School of Music at Northern Arizona University. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Flagstaff Piano Festival and Northern Arizona Piano Competition. Prior to joining the NAU faculty, he was Chair of Keyboard & Instrumental Studies at Millikin University, and has taught at Shenandoah Conservatory and the Royal Irish Academy of Music.