Français
Everyone has music in them, or at least a part of our lives which can only be filled by music.
-- Sergiu Popa
Français
Everyone has music in them, or at least a part of our lives which can only be filled by music.
-- Sergiu Popa
Born in Chisinau in 1981, Moldova, Sergiu Popa is a member of a well-known Roma (Gypsy) musical dynasty in his country. He, like several generations before him, is a virtuoso accordionist who plays not only traditional folk and Gypsy music of Eastern Europe, but is classically trained as well. He studied at the Stefan Neaga College of Music in Chisinau, and completed two years at the Conservatory of Chisinau before emigrating to Canada in 2002.
In Canada, during the short time he has been here, he has been distinguishing himself as a unique, versatile and highly talented
artist. He has continued to perform traditional Eastern European music with other distinguished musicians such as
Sergei Trofanov, Carmen Piculeata (violinists), Romeo Vaduva
(pan flutist), Vladimir Sidorov and Marin Nasturica (accordionists), while
expanding his repertoire with renowned jazz singer Jeri Brown.
He
played at the Drummondville 'festival Mondial des Cultures' in 2002, accompanied violinist Angèle Dubeau and her
ensemble at the Lanaudière and Mont-Tremblant festivals (2004). He was a featured artist at the 2005 edition of
the 'Printemps des Bretelles' accordion festival, the 1st edition of the 'Romani Yag' Gypsy festival and most
recently, in June 2005, he led the Moldomania ensemble for an outdoor performance as part of the 'Midis du Monde'
concert series at the Place des Arts.
As a soloist, he hopes to have more opportunities to perform at music festivals across Canada and eventually the U.S.
Sergiu teaches privately, and offers workshops in accordion and Gypsy music. He also plays for various private occasions in a duo or trio with his wife, violinist Jessica Gal and vocalist Nathalie Doummar.
His aim is to respectfully carry on the tradition which he has inherited from his father and his father before him, and
also to reach other highly-developed musicians who can help him push the boundaries of that tradition, fusing with jazz,
latin and other international influences.
Despite his young age, he has already established a reputation for developing creative, tasteful and innovative
arrangements and accompaniment, beyond what was being taught conventionally. He did this despite not having the
opportunity to be inspired by the music of great contemporary artists from the western world (until quite recently access
to music from outside the former eastern bloc was highly restricted in Moldova).
He believes that traditional music has its place in the future, and that young people will embrace it as long as it
continues to evolve and reflect the spirit of a living culture. He has his finger on the pulse of today's and tomorrow's
audiences, and aims to please but also to educate. He is a strong advocate of music and culture as a cornerstone of our
communities.
| Location | Date | Address | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrefour mondial de l'accordéon Montmagny | August 29 - September 2, 2007 | 301, boul. Taché Est, Montmagny, Qc. | http://accordeon.montmagny.com |
| Maison de la Culture Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu | August 26th, 2007, 4-5 PM | 1028, rue du Rivage, Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu | http://www.saint-antoine-sur-richelieu.ca/culture.htm |
| La Grande Rencontre festival | August 12th, 2007, time TBA | Lafontaine Park, Montreal, Qc. | www.festivallagranderencontre.com or (514) 273-0880 |
| CAMMAC, Lake MacDonald music center, teaching Gypsy music | July 8-14, 2007 (week 3) | 85 Cammac Road, Harrington, Qc | www.cammac.ca or 1-888-622-8755 |
| MMM Music and People Festival | April 27th, 2007, 8 PM | 10 300 Lajeunesse, Henri-Bourassa metro | www.musiquemultimontreal.com or (514) 856-3787 |
Accordion, piano: Sergiu Popa
Violin: Jessica Gal
Percussion: Anes Beglerbegovic
Now available! As of May 15th, 2006, you can order your copy of 'Obsession Accordéon', Sergiu's début CD. On this album you will discover a fascinating fusion of Gypsy music with latin, jazz and even electronic rhythms. Among the guest artists are Roméo Vaduva (master pan-flutist), Ziya Tabassian (of the Montreal based ensemble Constantinople) and Rodrigo Chavez (leader of Cassava Latin Rhythms, based in Toronto). Download here some free samples of the CD and hear it for yourself!
To order the CD, please send a cheque or money order in the amount of 22$ Cdn. (for orders within Canada) to the order of Shatra Music. (20$ for the CD, 2$ for shipping and handling).
The address:
Shatra Music
3471 Belmore Ave.
Montreal, Qc H4B 2B8
For orders from the U.S. or international orders, please purchase the CD online at cdbaby or Cantunes. These distributors will carry Obsession Accordéon as of June 1st, 2006.
"Ah... Sergiu Popa's album on my CD player finally and already twice on my Espace musique/Radio-Canada show in the course of three weeks! Looks like it's going to become a regular this summer as I'm hosting a daily World music program coast to coast! I just can't wait 'cause this crazy Moldavian accordion virtuoso now turned Montrealer is going to score big time all over the place, and I say Hopa to that!"
Dan Behrman, host of Espace Musique, Radio-Canada
The Best of Gypsy, Folk, Fusion, Jazz from a World-Class Artist
"This new CD finally provides Popa his much-deserved breakthrough. For gurus of the gypsy/roma/balkan/folk idiom, Popa's ability to play the various styles of the different nations with equal comfort is remarkable. For fans of fusion/jazz, the gypsy music from the villages of the Balkans is brought to you in a style accessible to the "western" ear. While Popa is well-known throughout his home country of Moldavia and new home, Canada, as one of the leading proponents of Romanian folk music, this CD will surely open audience's ears to Popa's modern stylings and improvisational abilities. Backed up by a virtuosic crew of musicians, this CD is a "must hear" for a wide scope of listeners."
Kalman Magyar for Hungaria Records (www.kalmanmagyar.com). (posted at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sergiupopa)
"Accordionist Sergiu Popa is one of those hundreds of hidden treasures which we continually discover, one by one, here in Montreal. [...] A genius instrumentalist, he is full of curiosity, and possesses an innate sense of improvisation. With one foot in the village wedding and the other exploring the orient, he also provides his take on bebop and latin rhythms. We even hear the pan flute, approached with a fresh perspective. Yes, he does vandalize Brahms' 3rd symphony a little with the beat box, but since he asks us specifically to forgive him, we will gladly do so."
Yves Bernard, Le Devoir, Montreal
Sergiu is available to perform workshops in schools with a music programme, schools specialized in music and world music - oriented festivals which are interested in Gypsy music and / or accordion.
Because he is classically trained and plays a number of different styles, he is able to cater to specific interests that students may have. He is also a gifted accompanist and can do workshops on how to accompany Gypsy / traditional music, (for keyboard players and guitarists alike) - a rare skill here in North America! If the topic of the workshop is Gypsy or traditional music, he can coach any musician, regardless of what instrument they play, and singers as well.
Please don't hesitate to contact Jessica Gal for details (see contact information, below).
.JPG "New Year's Eve, 2003, performing at the Vie en France restaurant in Old Montreal.")
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© 2004 - Design & realization Consultation Boréale - Music and images are property of Sergiu Popa.
