Marius Mihalache

Cimbalom for beginners What is a cimbalom and how do you play one? Celebrated cimbalom virtuoso Marius Mihalache presents his latest project ‘Cimbalom meets classic.’ In this workshop, he introduces the string instrument, which is commonly found in Central-Eastern European cultures such as Romania, and which has been an essential component of so-called Gypsy music for centuries. While demonstrating how to use the cimbalom, he pushes rhythms to interesting extremes by creating a fusion of Romanian folk, Balkan music and modern beats, and pays tribute to traditional Romanian songs and instruments. The perfect opportunity for music lovers to discover the cimbalom in an interactive and innovative way. Born into a family of musicians in Bucharest, Marius Mihalache (1974, Bucharest) started playing the cimbalom at the age of four. Five years later, he won his first music prize, and since then, he has been the recipient of numerous awards for his virtuosity and creative interpretations of Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Mozart. Before launching his critically-acclaimed first album Eclipse in 1998, Mihalache composed soundtracks for several films and TV series. He was invited to perform at the headquarters of the United Nations, the White House, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and many more. Marius has more than 29 years of experience in performing jazz, classical, and Gypsy music, as well as in organising classes for people who would like to learn more about the cimbalom.