Born on January 21st, 1992, in the town of Ocnița, Republic of Moldova, Ivan Curtean’s musical journey reads like a symphony of passion and perseverance. His destiny entwined with the cimbalom at the age of twelve, discovering this melodic world at the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Republican Music Lyceum in Chişinău, guided by the skilled hands of his teacher, Valeriu Luță.

However, Ivan’s journey into music faced an initial discord. His father, a self-taught keyboard player, held reservations about the viability of a musical career, given the challenges the profession often presented at that specific situation in the country and in the entire region. Against his father’s will, Ivan secretly practiced his keyboard while the father wasn’t home meanwhile, his mother, the silent guardian of his musical ambitions, watched over him and protected his clandestine moments, urging him to stop playing whenever his father were about to enter their home.

A turning point came when Ivan, at the age of eleven, was confronted by his parents. A choice laid before him – sport or music. His heart whispered a melody, and he chose music. This marked his entrance into the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Music Lyceum as well as the starting point of his “official” musical journey. From the very beginning It wasn’t easy to pick an instrument, but once the chance raised, Ivan got completely charmed by the sound of cimbalom. The cimbalom, with its ethereal resonance, soon became Ivan’s companion.

 His path aligned with the finest teachers, including the highest level maestro, Valeriu Luta. Under Luta’s guidance, Ivan not only honed his skills but ventured into competitions, concerts and festivals both within his homeland and abroad, winning several national and international competitions. In 2012, Ivan graduated the lyceum with highest honors, adorned with victories in competitions across Republic of Moldova, Romania, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia,etc. In the same period of his musical explorations, Ivan’s excellence was acknowledged with a scholarship from the city mayor of Chisinau, supporting his artistic endeavors as a young cimbalom player.

Post-school, Ivan’s exploration continued at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, marking him as the first Moldovan citizen being accepted at this esteemed institution. More than that, the Hungarian state honored him with a full scholarship, allowing him to enrich his studies. Here, he crossed paths with illustrious artists and teachers like Severényi Ilona, Szalai András, Balogh Kálmán, Lukács Miklós and many others.

In 2016, as a recognition of his talent and artistic activities, Ivan received a scholarship from the Bank of China in Hungary. This also marked the beginning of his active role in contemporary music, continuing with a collaboration with the joint program of Manhattan School of Music in New York and the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music.

His journey further unfolded through numerous projects, premieres, and collaborations with orchestras like Concerto Budapest, Orchestra of Liszt Academy students and graduates, various ensembles as well as a soloist. Notable among his accomplishments is the premiere of Alexander Timofeev’s Concerto for Cimbalom and Orchestra, op. 3, as well as its performances in different arrangements.

After completing his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Music Education degrees, Ivan was conferred the title ‘Master of Education’ (MEd) in 2020.