Born in Romania in 1989, violinist and conductor Radu Paponiu began studying the violin at age seven, moving on to study privately with Carmen Runceanu and Stefan Gheorghiu. Beginning his conducting studies with Maxim Eshkenazy and continuing with Alexander Treger as Conducting Fellow of the American Youth Symphony, Radu was recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the American Youth Symphony. In the summer of 2011, Radu participated in The Conductors Retreat at Medomak, studying privately with Kenneth Kiesler.

Working closely with Yehuda Gilad as student conductor for The Colburn Outreach Orchestra, The Colburn Virtuoso String Orchestra, and The Colburn Contemporary Players, Radu has conducted numerous performances at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music and in the greater Los Angeles area. Additionally, Radu has guest conducted The Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, The Luzerne Music Center String Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Regional Youth String Music Orchestra.

Winner of the 2007 “Rotari Atheneum” Prize, Radu has made solo violin appearances with orchestras such as the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, Bucharest Conservatory Orchestra, “Ion Dumitrescu” Philharmonic Orchestra, Lyceum Strings Orchestra, Central European Initiative Youth Orchestra, and Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra. As recitalist, Radu has performed in Thayer Hall at the Colburn Conservatory, the Atheneum and History Museum of Bucharest, and The Cultural Center of Arcus.

Radu has been a guest artist for music festivals in the United States, Canada, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Hungary, including the Perlman Music Program, Banff Chamber Music Workshop, and the Aspen Music Festival. Radu has appeared in numerous masterclasses with artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Robert Mann, Donald Weilerstein, Christian Altenburger, Alexander Arenkov, and Merry Peckham. Radu is former Concertmaster of the Central European Initiative Youth Orchestra and Lyceum String Orchestra, as well as former Principal Second Violinist of The American Youth Symphony.

Radu is currently in the studio of Robert Lipsett at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music, where he is a senior in the Bachelor of Music Program.

From left to right: Radu Paponiu, AYS Concertmaster Francesca dePasquale, and Maestro Alexander Treger.