After picking up his first violin at age four, Romanian-born Tănău began his musical education in his hometown of Timisoara, Romania. His music education in Romania and the United States included graduating from Liceul de Muzica “Ion Vidu,” where he studied violin with Maria Clesiu, earning an Artists Diploma from the Conservatorul de Muzica “G. Dima,” and a graduate degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.He joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1995. As an artist, he has appeared as a soloist with Romanian orchestras as well as with the Chautauqua Symphony and Bowling Green Philharmonia in the U.S. Active as a chamber musician, some of his recent projects include the recording of the Paul Paray violin sonata, and string quartet for Grotto Productions Co. Critics in the prestigious
Strad,
Gramophone and
Fanfare magazines praised his recording of the violin sonata. He has performed in concerts with world-class conductors and soloists such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Slatkin, Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zukerman, Emanuel Ax, Andre Watts, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn and others.Marian Tănău is the Founder, President and Executive Director of the American Romanian Music Festival that was launched successfully in March and April of 2005 in both Romania and the United States, and continues to promote cross-cultural exchanges between the two countries today.
Recently he served as Concert Organizer for a 19-concert series and other community and educational events performed by the Musicians for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. As the originator and organizer, he created a ticket sales system, arranged live television broadcasts, engaged conductors and venues, and handled marketing for the group to produce an entire season of concerts. The six-month series was enthusiastically received by Detroit audiences, creating a strong bond between musicians and their audience.
For two years he was Chairman of the Orchestra Committee for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, responsible for a host of areas involving the group of professional musicians.
New Mexico Philharmonic Board Chairman Evan Rice said of the hiring, “Marian Tănău is already actively engaged in the management of the orchestra and its many elements. We were all immensely impressed with his experience, understanding and enthusiasm for the task ahead as together we build a great future for the New Mexico Philharmonic.”
Tănău, who currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and children, will travel regularly to Albuquerque during the initial phase of his management of the New Mexico Philharmonic, with plans to relocate in the future.