Nico Gutu

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When something is forbidden, it becomes all the more tempting – this is how Nico Gutu’s musical journey began.

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As a child, he was only allowed to touch the buttons of his grandfather’s accordion in secret or under his watchful eye. All the more formative, then, was the moment when, at the age of eight, he was completely unexpectedly given that very instrument as a gift by his grandfather.

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Shaped by the folklore of his homeland and driven by a desire to expand the boundaries of the accordion, his path led him from classical training in Weimar, through varieté experiences in Paris and Italy, to contemporary music in the jazz department of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. There, he became the first accordion student in this field in Germany.

 

Today, Nico Gutu performs on concert stages in over 20 countries worldwide. His artistic work extends far beyond the instrument itself. As a composer, director, and dramaturg, he develops independent concert formats and lends the accordion new contextual and aesthetic dimensions.

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Concerts in:

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• Xixiang Hall, Shenzhen China

• Theater of the Federal City of Bonn, Germany

• Berlin Philharmonic, Germany

• Aragonese Castle, Isola di Capo Rizzuto Italy

• Fonoteca nacional de México

• Leipzig Opera, Germany

• Theater Alambic, Martiny Switzerland

• Chisinau Philharmonic, Republic of Moldova

• Theater Portimao, Portugal

• Theater Rostov-on-Don, Russia

• Theater GOP Variete Bonn, Germany

• Organ Hall Chisinau, Moldova

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Important chamber music projects with:

 

• Dr. Prof. Corina Eikmeier - cello (Germany)

• Sharon Kam - clarinet (Israel)

• Theater a Tempo (Canada)

• Marcus Sundermeyer (Germany)

• Daniel Garcia Diego (Spain)

• Clara Däubler - double bass (Germany)

• Balawan - Guitar (Indonesia)

• Ensemble for Contemporary Music and Live Electronics Asambura (Germany)

• GOP Variety Theater Bonn (Germany)

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Festivals:

 

• International Music Festival Heidelberger Frühling 2022, Germany

• Beethoven Fest, Germany

• Festival Cultural Zacatecas, Mexico

• LiedFest Heidelberg, Germany

• Höri Musiktage classic music festival, Switzerland

• Liedstadt Hamburg 2024, Germany

• WinterJazz Festival Brelingen, Germany

• International Music Festival Heidelberger Frühling 2021, Germany

• GartenKultur Music Festival in Schwanewede, Germany

• Classical Music in the Old Town of Hannover, Germany

• JazzSummer Festival Pinneberg, Germany

• Accordion Soul Music Festival in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

• AccordionArt Festival Roseto degli Abruzzi in Italy

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Own master classes/ workshops:

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• Lecturer of Improvised Music at the 2024 Summer Music Camp in Republic of Moldova

• Workshop: Modern Accordion at the Indonesian Institute of The Arts Denpasar 2024

• Masterclass: Accordion Improvisation at the Music College "Stefan Neaga" in Chisinau 2019

• Masterclass: Improvisation at the Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts in Chisinau 2020

• Workshop: Elementary Jazz/Rock/Pop Accordion at the University of Music, Theatre and Media Hannover 2023​​​

• Workshop: Akkordeon tradition meets innovation at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma         de México in Mexico 2025

• Workshop: Accordion for composers at the Unidad académica de artes in Zacatecas, Mexico 2025

• Workshop: Accordion for composers at the Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico 2025

• Workshop: Accordion for composers at the universidad autonoma de aguascalientes, Mexico 2025

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Jury Member:

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• 18th music competition "Musikschul-Grand-Prix 2022" in Wolfsburg, Germany

• "D-Bü 2022" music competition in Trossingen, Germany

• "1st. National Competition Hohner 2014" in Semur-en-Auxois, France

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Promoter:

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• Foundation in the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft 2014

• Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Weimar 2016 

• Foundation in the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft/ Neue Liszt Foundation 2016

• Foundation of the University of Music, Theater and Media Hanover 2018

• International Office of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media 2018 

• DAAD price 2018 

• Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Hannover 2018-2022

• Sponsorship of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media 2019-2020 

• Sponsorship funding from Mr. Walter K. Leyendecker 2019-2020

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Teaching:

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• Team leader of the improvisation working groups at several schools in the Hanover region within the project "Improkultur" led by Prof. Andrea Welte

• Tutor and arranger in the MusicSwapLab project of the future laboratory - an initiative of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen

• Musical direction of a group improvisation in classrooms at various schools in the state of Lower Saxony (Project: Improvisation as a guest in the classroom 2022 state of Lower Saxony)

• Accordion teacher in classical/conventional as well as jazz and improvisation accordion

• His accordion students are prizewinners at various competitions in Germany

• His students are participants in master classes and interdisciplinary projects throughout Germany

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Instruments and Accordion Systems:

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• Pigini Nova - C-Griff (Custom made)

•  Pigini - Super Speciale (Custom made)