Nicolae Bica

Born into a family of musicians, Romanian violinist Nicolae Lucian Bica started his violin studies in his native town, Brasov, at the age of six with Ilarion I. Galati. In 1988 he continued his studies at the George Enescu Music High School in Bucharest with Carmen Runceanu and Stefan Gheorgiu.

Bica won first prize in several major youth competitions in Romania. In 1990, he won Fourth Prize at the Kloster Schontal International Violin Competition (Germany), with a special award for performing a virtuoso piece. In 1992, he won the First Prize at the Romania International Violin Competition. He was also awarded a scholarship at the summer music festival in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

During the 1991-92 season, Bica performed extensively as soloist with major orchestras and in solo recitals in Romania. During the 1992-93 academic year he was awarded a scholarship to study with Joseph Fuchs at the Juilliard School of Music.

Bica has been a top prize winner at the 1996 National Society of Arts and Letters Violin Competition, the Boca Symphonic Pops scholarship awards and semifinalist in the 1996 Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artist Competition (England). He appeared twice as soloist with the Harid Philarmonia as winner of the Harid Concerto Competition.

During the summers of 1995 and 1996, Bica performed with national orchestras in Romania and Austria, including appearances as soloist with the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, the George Dima Philharmonic in Brasov, and a solo recital organized and hosted by the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu.

After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree and the Professional Studies diploma from the Harid Conservatory, Bica was awarded a scholarship from the Budder Foundation to continue his studies at Webster University under the watchful eyes of the Concertmaster and the Principal Second Violin of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, David Halen and Alison Harney, respectively.

Since the 2001 season, Nicolae Bica has been a full-time member of the SLSO.

Meet Nicolae in this Q&A video from 2021.