International Artists’ House
Bușteni

Mentoring Project

„Paths to Mastery”

6th Edition
Bușteni, 22–28 August 2026

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A new stage of artistic training within a project dedicated to excellence.

The mentoring project “Paths to Mastery” continues to build bridges between young Romanian musicians and leading European music centres. The 6th edition of the intensive courses brings a distinguished guest to Romania: pianist Prof. Carl Wolf, Professor of Piano and Chamber Music at the Basel Academy of Music in Switzerland, under whose patronage this course takes place.This edition also marks the beginning of an international collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Romania, opening new opportunities for cultural and educational exchange for the young artists involved in the project. The collaboration underlines the international dimension of “Paths to Mastery”, whose aim is to create lasting connections between young Romanian musicians and major European music centres.For the first time, a young flautist will also take part in the courses. She stood out for her talent and artistic potential during the mentors’ workshop held in Sibiu on 17 February 2026.

The final concert of the course will take place on 27 August at the Goethe-Institut in Bucharest and on 28 August at the International Artists' House in Busteni. It will offer the audience the opportunity to experience the results of the intensive work carried out during the course days and to hear a new generation of young musicians at the beginning of a promising artistic journey.

The Course Professors:

Prof. Carl Wolf

Piano

Educated in Cologne and Basel, Carl Wolf studied with Krystian Zimerman, one of the defining figures of the European piano tradition.
As a prizewinner of the renowned International Piano Competition “Ferruccio Busoni” in Bolzano, he is internationally active as a concert pianist and appears with recitals and chamber music concerts in numerous European countries.Since 2024, Prof. Carl Wolf has been head of the interdisciplinary department at the Basel University of Music FHNW, Institute of Classical Music, where he also heads the Master’s programmes in Specialised Performance Chamber Music and Song Interpretation.

Prof. André Parfenov

Piano and Chamber Music

André Parfenov is a permanent member of the mentoring team at the International Artists’ House and serves as artistic director of the support programme “Paths to Mastery.”An exceptional pianist and composer, he graduated from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. A versatile artistic personality, he teaches at the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig.He leads the sessions on improvisation, accompaniment and stylistic interpretation.

Iuliana Münch

Violin and Chamber Music

As a violinist with an active international concert career, Iuliana Münch is co-founder of the Parfenov Duo and initiator of Casa Artiștilor Bușteni.With a profound pedagogical vision and an authentic commitment to young musicians, she developed the mentoring concept of the course.
Within the chamber music workshops, she guides the artistic process together with André Parfenov.

Prof. Răzvan Suma

Cello

Răzvan Suma is one of the most distinguished Romanian cellists of his generation. He looks back on an impressive international career and is regularly heard on major stages around the world.As a prizewinner of renowned competitions, a soloist of the Romanian Radio Orchestras and Choirs, and an Associate Professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest, he combines virtuosity with sensitivity and interpretative depth.

The International Artists’ House Bușteni

At the heart of this project is a very special place, founded by Iuliana Münch Geambașu. During the summer, it becomes a living artistic laboratory – a place of encounter between generations, culture, talent and vocation.With each edition, “Paths to Mastery” becomes a bridge between worlds: a living symbol of equal access to artistic excellence and an important point of reference for the concrete, profound and sustainable support of young talents.Created and led by violinist Iuliana Münch Geambașu, this transformative programme offers young musicians a real platform for their artistic journey.