Maria Elisabeta Zdralea was born on January 5th, 1994 in Romania. She started playing the piano at the age of 6. She began her musical studies at the Queen Maria National College of Arts in Constanta, with Iuliana Carlig, and continued with Daniel Nehoianu at the Tudor Ciortea Music High School in Brasov, Romania. She graduated from the George Enescu National College of Music in Bucharest in 2013, where she studied with Mihaela Zamfirescu. In 2008, she was distinguished with the Excellence Diploma of the Romanian Government for her results at the Music National Olympics. In 2009, she won the 1st prize and the Grand Prize at the Ionel Perlea National Piano Competition in Slobozia, Romania. In March 2010, she was one of the finalists of the Eurovision Young Musicians National Selection in Bucharest, Romania and she performed at the Romanian Athenaeum, with the Romanian Youth Orchestra, conducted by Horia Andreescu. In May, she was invited to play at the Business Hall of Fame Gala at the Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest. Zdralea ’s list of prizes include 1st prizes at the following National and International competitions: Margareta Sterian National Piano Competition (Buzau, Romania, 2009), Gradus ad Parnassum Piano Competition (Bucharest, 2010), Romantic Miniature International Chamber Music Competition (Galati, Romania, 2011), Gradus ad Parnassum Chamber Music Competition (Bucharest, 2011 and 2012). Zdralea is currently completing her studies, under the guidance of Ciro Fodere, at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida.
