"Music isn’t based on talent, hours spent in a classroom nor on striving to become more influential. True music reflects our heart and soul."
Irina Rusu is a Moldovan violinist who has been performing in concerts, festivals and competitions from an early age. As a graduate with Master's Degree in Music Pedagogy and Violin Performance at the Sibelius Academy, Rusu actively performed as a soloist with Moldavian and Finnish chamber and symphonic orchestras, including Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2013. In Spring 2014, she made her debut in the USA after winning a Grand Prix in the international competition “Concert Festival” and was awarded a performance in Carnegie Hall. Currently, she is working at the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
In addition, Rusu is appointed as concertmaster of the Jalas Chamber Orchestra (awarded with the title “Ambassador of Young Culture” by The Finnish Ministry of Education). She is a founding member of the Tango Mono ensemble, a quintet specializing in Astor Piazzolla's music. With this group, she arranged and participated in concert tours in Finland, Moldova and Greece.
In 2017, Rusu was awarded a violin by Jaakko Mäkelä from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, in addition to grants by the Wihuri Foundation, Balassi Institute, Lions Club Helsinki OY, Embassy of Finland in Bucharest and Suomi100 for arranging multiple range of concerts in Moldova and Finland.
"Through the tools we have as musicians, we’re able to touch people’s hearts and share emotions without words."
“Life is a gift. Our relation with the world, our self-awareness of who we are and why we were born is the true beauty of living. The journey, from taking our first independent steps to finding out the meaning of our existence brings life its spice – a special taste to our everyday routines.
As a musician, I find myself extremely lucky to be able to experience the world through music. Music isn’t based on talent, hours spent in a classroom nor on striving to become more influential. True music reflects our heart and soul. Through the tools we have as musicians, we’re able to touch people’s hearts and share emotions without words, sometimes even to bring lost souls back to life or bring restless beings to an intimate and safe space. As managers, we get the chance to help others to share these experiences – to share our own understanding of beauty, arts and culture. As teachers, we are living compasses to those we teach. Not just in the world of music, but also in life in general – we influence the choices our students make everyday.
The world is full of misconceptions, fear, lies and tears. We all see that, we all feel that and maybe sometimes even use that. But, perhaps the time has come to awake from our egoism and start believing in and sharing the true power of music and kindness? We are all living on the same planet, breathing same air and drinking same water, eating the same food. Why not give to the world a piece of our soul and share it with the future generations? Cherishing every minute of our life through who we are and continue to rationalize our existence is the ultimate gift.”