Hailed as a pianist that displays “an expressive and unleashed interpretation, transcending all the technical challenges of the score…a gift to the audience” (Radio Romania Muzical/Romanian Music Radio), Catalin Dima has established himself as one of the leading artists of his generation. As a Romanian pianist residing in the US, he performed throughout both countries, in acclaimed venues such as the Weill RecitalHall at Carnegie Hall (NYC), the Klavierhaus (NYC), the Cosmos Club (Washington D.C.), the Preston Bradley Hall (Chicago), the Romanian Athenaeum (Romania), the Thalia Concert Hall (Romania), the Mihail Jora Philharmonic Hall (Romania), the Oltenia Philharmonic Hall (Romania), and the Pitesti Philharmonic Hall (Romania).

 

His engagements with orchestras include concerts with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pitesti Philharmonic Orchestra, the Washington Sinfonietta, the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphonic Winds at SOSU.

 

Catalin Dima is a prize winner of numerous national and international piano competitions, including Karl Filtsch International Piano Competition (Sibiu), Fr. Chopin International Piano Competition (Hartford, CT), Pro Piano International Competition (Bucharest), and Yamaha Piano Competition (Bucharest).

 

His commitment to championing contemporary music is evident through his innovative programming. Dr. Dima combines mainstream and rare piano repertoire, currently focusing on Romanian, American, and Japanese composers. His dedication to artistic exploration and experimentation reflects his unwavering commitment to keeping classical music vibrant and relevant in the modern age. As a chamber musician, Dr. Dima worked with Pulitzer Prize-winning composers such as David Lang, Jennifer Higdon, and John Corigliano, and performed in concerts with distinguished music groups dedicated to contemporary music such as Edge Ensemble (Shenandoah Conservatory) and Great Noise Ensemble (Washington D.C.). Together with violinist Alexandru Malaimare, Dr. Dima started a duo project that includes lectures and concerts and promotes Romanian music throughout the U.S. Their engagements included tours in Indiana, Illinois, D.C., Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas.

 

During the summer, Dr. Dima serves as a guest artist and faculty at the Chamber Music Conference Festival, hosted by Colgate University in upstate New York. He participated in renowned international music festivals such as the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (NYC), the Interharmony International Music Festival (Germany), and the International Summer Academy Prague-Wien-Budapest (Austria).

 

A frequent guest artist and adjudicator, Catalin Dima is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and College Music Society. He has served as a judge in festivals and competitions such as the Texas MTA, Oklahoma MTA, Denison Piano Competition, the 26th Washington Conservatory of Music Festival, Texoma Piano Competition, NVMTA Piano Achievement Awards, and Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy Festival.

 

Beyond his achievements as a performer, Dr. Dima is a respected leader in the music community, serving as the Executive Director of the Texoma Piano Competition and the Artistic Director of the Musical Art Series at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Through his leadership roles, he spearheads initiatives to promote musical excellence and artistic innovation, enriching the cultural landscape of the community.

 

Dr. Dima's dedication to institution and professional service is further evidenced by his involvement in search committees and his contributions to conferences and festivals, where he shares his expertise and insights with colleagues and students alike.

 

A native of Romania, Dr. Dima holds degrees from Shenandoah University (D.M.A.), Mannes School of Music (M.M.), and the Romanian National University of Music in Bucharest (M.M., B.M.). Currently, he serves as the Assistant Professor of Piano at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.