At the age of six, Cristian began studying violin. At 11, he took fourth place in the International Violin Competition Jaroslaw Kocian in the Czech Republic and continued earning prizes in Romanian and international competitions. When he was 17, Cristian was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy that would take him away from his family and bring him to the United States. Interlochen, one of America's premier high schools for talented young artists from around the world, provided Cristian with an opportunity to explore and develop his talents further – including a New York performance at Carnegie Hall.

Currently, Cristian is Concertmaster and Assistant Conductor of the University of Miami Symphony Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Miami Symphony and Associate Conductor of the Florida Youth Orchestra – gaining invaluable training and experience while taking a full complement of classes. “I really enjoy Liberal Arts courses like Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology and I also love Music History,” says Cristian, an admitted Lego-maniac in the little spare time he has.

“The Spitalny Scholarship has made all of this possible for me. Without it, I would have had no chance to go to school because my parents cannot support me at all. What I’ve received from the scholarship is all I have,” he says. But what he has accomplished with the assistance is remarkable. “Being at the University has really helped me and given me the time and space to experiment and decide what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have had a chance to compose and conduct even though I am a violin major. I have written more than 10 pieces. I feel so much more mature and enlightened, it is hard to describe.”

Cristian has certainly excelled over the past four years at UM. In addition to his service as Concertmaster and Assistant Conductor, he was a featured violin soloist with the Naples Philharmonic; his piece for violin and chamber orchestra Preces, premiered in Gusman Concert Hall with Cristian as the soloist; and he took it on tour in China last Spring with the UM Symphony Orchestra – with performances in Beijing and Shanghai.

“In the near future, I plan to play the violin. Later, I would like to be a conductor for my career, and composition will likely be a hobby. They all complement each other. I am trying to find my voice, my place,” he says. Yet he has not forgotten his Romanian roots. “I have other dreams too,” Cristian adds. “I’ve always wanted to teach, to give my time to places that need it. And once I am making a living, I would like to start a scholarship to help other Eastern European students.”

- Arlene Adams Easley