Biography
Pianist Cătălin Șerban focuses on Romantic and Post-Romantic repertoire, frequently placing pieces side by side in unexpected pairings. He maintains an active schedule both as a solo performer and in collaborative chamber settings while also teaching.
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Șerban began piano lessons at six and soon entered the George Enescu Music High School. Before commencing university studies in Germany, he earned multiple awards in Romania and abroad, among them first prizes at the Senigallia Piano Competition in Italy and the Bremen Piano Competition in Germany. His German training received support through scholarships from the Berlin University of the Arts, the Paul Hindemith Society Berlin, and the Marie-Luise-Imbusch Foundation Lübeck. At the Berlin University of the Arts he worked with Martin Hughes and László Simon, and he pursued additional instruction at the Hochschule für Musik Lübeck under Konrad Esler. He supplemented this formation through master classes with Claude Frank, György Sebök, Pascal Devoyon, and further instructors.
Șerban continues to reside in Germany while returning regularly to Romania for concerts. His debut recording, Des cloches sonores, appeared on Dreyer Gaido in 2018. As a recitalist and concerto soloist he has appeared at the Chamber Music Hall of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Berlin Konzerthau, and the Bucharest Athenaeum. Chamber-music engagements have taken him to the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, the Brahms Festival in Lübeck, and the Oberstdorf Music Summer. He established the Spielende Insel festival on the Baltic island of Rügen, where seasoned artists collaborate with emerging talents. The album Resemblances was released on Genuin in 2022, followed in 2024 by the Naxos chamber release Mélodies Infinies: Fauré, Enescu.
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Șerban began piano lessons at six and soon entered the George Enescu Music High School. Before commencing university studies in Germany, he earned multiple awards in Romania and abroad, among them first prizes at the Senigallia Piano Competition in Italy and the Bremen Piano Competition in Germany. His German training received support through scholarships from the Berlin University of the Arts, the Paul Hindemith Society Berlin, and the Marie-Luise-Imbusch Foundation Lübeck. At the Berlin University of the Arts he worked with Martin Hughes and László Simon, and he pursued additional instruction at the Hochschule für Musik Lübeck under Konrad Esler. He supplemented this formation through master classes with Claude Frank, György Sebök, Pascal Devoyon, and further instructors.
Șerban continues to reside in Germany while returning regularly to Romania for concerts. His debut recording, Des cloches sonores, appeared on Dreyer Gaido in 2018. As a recitalist and concerto soloist he has appeared at the Chamber Music Hall of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Berlin Konzerthau, and the Bucharest Athenaeum. Chamber-music engagements have taken him to the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, the Brahms Festival in Lübeck, and the Oberstdorf Music Summer. He established the Spielende Insel festival on the Baltic island of Rügen, where seasoned artists collaborate with emerging talents. The album Resemblances was released on Genuin in 2022, followed in 2024 by the Naxos chamber release Mélodies Infinies: Fauré, Enescu.
Albums
