Jason C. Tramm to Conduct the Oltenia Philharmonic & Academic Choir in 'Friendship Season' in Romania

Jason C. Tramm will guest conduct "Concert extraordinary de Craciun" with the Oltenia Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Academic Choir with featured soloist, Romanian- American soprano Veronica Iovan, December 21st through 23rd in Craiova, Romania.

The concert will present works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Franz Schubert, César Franck, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Georg Friedrich Händel, Harold Arlen, Leroy Anderson, Agustín Lara, Nino Rota, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Pietro Yon, and Franz Xaver Gruber.

According to George Fabian, artistic consultant for the Craiova Philharmonic, the long-awaited Christmas concerts are cherished events of the Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra's historic 112th Anniversary "Friendship Season." Conceived by Vlad Dr?gulescu Artistic Director at the National Theatre Craiova and Manager of the Oltenia Philharmonic the "2016-17 Friendship Season" is designed to underscore the enduring power of classical music - and the notable and boundary defying musical friendships between the Oltenia Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and individuals and institutions throughout the world.

Maestro Tramm joins a distinguished list of guest artists, alumni and institutions collaborating with the Oltenia Philharmonic during the orchestra's eight month, 30 concert "Friendship Season." The Oltenia Orchestra's 2016-17 initiative of excellence includes engagement with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amsterdam / Netherlands), the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Vienna / Austria) and London Symphony Orchestra (London / UK Kingdom).

Additionally, the "Friendship Season" will showcase accomplished alumni of the university, who have established successful musical careers abroad, to return and perform with the orchestra. Featured alumni include soprano Veronica Iovan (USA) Nicolae Moldoveanu (conductor, Switzerland) Rebekah Omordia (pianist, England), Mihai Diaconescu (pianist, Finland), Dan Atanasiu (pianist, Canada), Ovidiu Marinescu (cellist, USA), Luiza Borac ( pianist, Germany), Mihnea Ignat (conductor, Spain), Adela Liculescu (pianist, Austria), Louis Armin Cora (oboist, Luxembourg), Remus Azoi?ei (violinist, England), Mirabela Dina (pianist , Germany), Teresa Beldi (cellist, Germany), Vlad St?nculeasa (violinist, Spain), Elena Mo?uc (soprano, Switzerland), Dana Radu (pianist, Brazil), Liviu Prunaru (violin, Netherlands), Constantin Sandu (pianist, Portugal ), Matthias (conductor, South Africa).

Maestro Tramm's long standing commitment to performances underscoring music's universal power to unite people - most recently demonstrated by his 2015 Peace Trilogy concerts culminating at Carnegie Hall in "A Prayer for Peace"- attracted the attention and regard of Craiova's "native daughter" lyric soprano and model Veronica Iovan. Ms. Iovan had come to national attention in Romania at age six, competing at the "Little Prince Festival" performing songs composed by her mother Maria Moculescu. Veronica, in duet with her mother, singing "Lasati porumbeii sa zboare..." (Let birds fly...) a song whose lyrics expressed a yearning for peace, where children everywhere could follow their passions and dreams - brought the house down and secured first prize. Ms. Iovan's studies in ballet and music and her continued success in youth vocal competitions brought her to the attention of the artistic leadership at the Oltenia Philharmonic where she subsequently became a member Oltenia State Philharmonic Chorus. Upon graduation with a high school baccalaureate diploma Veronica was granted a full scholarship to attend the National University of Music in Bucharest and was contracted for major national and international performances. By invitation she performed at the Presidential Palace of Romania, where she received outstanding critical acclaim. Ms. Iovan pursued post graduate studies in Verona and Strasbourg earning a Master's Degree in Modern Opera, performing to acclaim in engagements in Norway, France, England, Spain, Iran and Italy.

Presently a resident of New York City, Veronica Iovan has appeared in classical concerts with The Queens Symphony Orchestra, MidAtlantic Opera and the New Jersey State Opera. Ms. Iovan has adapted her singing style in numerous pop opera shows, performing with Franc D'Ambrosio, best known for the main role in The Phantom of the Opera and his memorable Anthony Vito Corleone role in God father part III. As a musical ambassador for Romania, Veronica enjoys performing in concerts and events for civic and cultural organizations including United Nations, the Philippine and Romanian Embassies, Les Couleurs and Confederazione Siciliana del America. A featured guest at New York City's Romanian Day Celebration on Broadway and Columbus Day Parade in NY, Ms. Iovan shared her love of Romanian traditional songs with thousands. Combining her love of movement, and ballet, in performance Ms. Iovan is also an accomplished model and has been a featured performer at the Couture Fashion week for several years. Recently she performed for the Global short film award Galla in Cannes France, where she also wore and modeled gowns of some of the most famous European designers.

Conductor Jason C. Tramm's work in the symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire has received acclaim both nationally and internationally. Noted productions under his baton include a world premiere of the Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in Tirana, Albania; the MidAtlantic Opera Company's inaugural production of Verdi's Rigoletto in 2014 and their mainstage production "Verdiana" in honor of the Verdi Bicentennial. As Artistic Director of the New Jersey State Opera from 2008-2012, Tramm's performances included the 75th anniversary production of the Gershwin's Porgy and Bess at Newark's Symphony Hall and the 2009 HDTV broadcast presentation with PBS affiliate NJN, of "Verdi Requiem: Live from Ocean Grove which garnered a regional Emmy Award nomination. Since 2006 Tramm has held the position of Director of Music Ministries for the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, where he conducts both sacred and secular works. National broadcasts from the historic 6,500 seat Great Auditorium, home to the magnificent Hope - Jones Organ have included Léon Boëllmann's Fantasie-Dialogue for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 35 with Gordon Turk, organ; Rittenhouse Orchestra and Alexandre Guilmant's Symphony Number 1 in d for Organ and Orchestra presented by American Public Media's classical music show "Pipe Dreams", aired locally on New York's classical music station WQXR. Tramm also serves as Artistic Advisor for the New Jersey based Adelphi Orchestra.

In 2015 Tramm made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in "A Prayer for Peace" featuring the works of Behzad Ranjbaran (Elegy for Cello and Strings), Leonard Bernstein's (Chichester Psalms), Vaughan Williams' (Dona Nobis Pacem) and Adnan Saygun (Selections from Yunis Emre). He returns to NYC in March of 2017 to conduct the second concert of the Prayer for Peace trilogy at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. An accomplished educator, Tramm serves on the faculty at Seton Hall University as Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities, College of Communication and the Arts where he leads the University Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra, and teaches voice and conducting.

In addition to his appearances with the Oltenia Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Academic Choir of Romania (12/21-23/2016), Jason Tramm's guest conducting engagements will include and with Narnia Festival 2017 in Italy, where he conducts Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica. In February 2017 Tramm returns to conduct Verdi masterworks, "Rigoletto" with South Carolina's Palmetto Opera (2/20/17) and "La Traviata" with Opera New Hampshire (2/25/17).