Young Romanian violinist Ioan-Octavian Parlea has won a full scholarship at the prestigious Purcell Music School in London. The scholarship is worth over GBP 30,000 per year.

The Romanian’s performance is extremely rare given that, as a rule, the British state ensures about two-thirds of the scholarship for students outside Great Britain, Rotary Kronstadt, the NGO that supported Parlea, said in the message posted on its Facebook page.

In an official letter addressed to the parents of Ioan-Octavian Parlea, Stephen Yeo, the headmaster of Purcell School, said: “the committee members were extremely impressed with the performance of Ioan-Octavian and, at their recommendation, I am delighted to offer him a place at Purcell School, combined with a scholarship.”

Ioan-Octavian turned 16 last month. He has been playing violin since he was seven years old. He started his violin studies at the Tudor Ciortea High School in Brasov and then, in the fifth grade, he was transferred to Dinu Lipatti School in Bucharest.

He won prizes at several national Olympiads of violin, as well as several national and international competitions. Last year, during a master organized in Sinaia mountain resort, two international masters of violin noticed the young Romanian and invited him to take the admission exam at the Purcell School. The exam took place on January 26 this year.

Ioan-Octavian Parlea is the second Romanian to receive a scholarship at the Purcell School.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Rotary Kronstadt on Facebook)