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| Stefan Stanciu |
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I began to study the pan flute, Romania’s national instrument, at the age of 7 with my Romanian-born father Constantin Stanciu. “Stefan - the little pan flutist” published five solo albums and made numerous appearances on TV. In time, however, the character of my performances started to change. The repertoire grew and Western art music gained more ground. I played in classical chamber music ensembles and appeared as a soloist with various symphony orchestras, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Some of the concerts were held outside Finland – in Estonia, Sweden, France and Romania.
Since the pan flute was not included in the official music educational programme in Finland, I started my formal studies in music as a flautist and oboist. During my high-school years, I decided to major in the oboe at the Helsinki Conservatory, and succeeded in getting the pan flute accepted as a minor. In spring 2003, my soloist examination C in pan flute playing – the first pan flute exam of professional studies in Finland – was awarded the highest possible grade. Over the following two years, I passed the further degrees, B-recital and Concerto examination at the Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia. The grades were again excellent, and this time, the board officially welcomed the pan flute to the family of classical instruments, thus acknowledging its unique, enriching means of expression.
In my Master’s Degree thesis (the University of Jyväskylä, 2004) I studied the Western music tradition and suggested works, which could be integrated into the pan flute repertoire. I also examined pieces originally written for the pan flute, and sought to provide technical and physiological information to composers planning to write pieces for the instrument.
Since the pan flute is a new instrument in the Finnish music education programme, no stage degree requirements or progressive repertoire lists for this instrument had been compiled. For the pan flute to be taught within the music education system, these stage degree requirements and repertoire lists needed to be created both for the basic level and the music institute level (I/D). In spring 2007, I finished my thesis for the degree programme in classical music, Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia, titled Basic stage degree requirements and progressive repertoire lists for basic levels 1-3 and music institute level I/D for the Pan flute.
In December 2007, I graduated as an oboe and pan flute pedagogue from Stadia, and in January 2008, as Master of Arts (M.A) from the University of Jyväskylä, department of musicology.
In May 2008, Duo Pantastic released an album, Café Concert, which contains Western art music arranged for pan flute and piano.
Presently I teach pan flute at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music, and hold pan flute courses for both beginners and more advanced players. I make frequent appearances in concert halls throughout Finland and also abroad, the total number of performances already amounting to hundreds.
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