The Virtuoso Accordion concert will feature Radu Rățoi, a Moldovan accordionist known for his innovative style. It’s scheduled for February 22, 2026, at 4:PM at West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Ratui will perform a mix of classical transcriptions by Bach, Rameau, Liszt, and Saint-Saëns, along with some contemporary pieces. It’s part of the Parlance Chamber Concerts series, and you can find tickets on their website.
Winner of the 2024 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, accordionist Radu Ratoi, began playing the accordion at the age of six in his hometown in the Republic of Moldova. A prodigious talent, Radu excelled early on, winning numerous international competitions in the junior category.
C. Saint-Saens – Dance Macabre performed by Radu Ratoi – accordion
Recorded on October 27, 2024, at Kaufman Music Center – Merkin Hall
He has since gone on to achieve an extraordinary record, winning in six accordion competitions in the world: Coupe Mondiale, Klingenthal Accordion Competition, Trophy Mondiale, Arrasate Accordion Competition, PIF Castelfidardo, and the Moscow Accordion Competition. In total, he has received more than 60 national and international awards.
Praised for his originality, versatility, and virtuosity in both classical and contemporary repertoire, Radu has earned several prestigious honors in his homeland. In 2018, he was awarded the “Excellence Diploma”” and in 2022, the esteemed Moldovan National Distinction “Master in Arts”” both presented by the President of the Republic of Moldova.
Radu studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he was awarded the Sonning Music Prize, one of Denmark’s most prestigious honors. His artistry is defined by the unique way he blends two major musical traditions-the Russian school and the Western European school-into a deeply personal and distinctive style.
In 2022, Radu released his debut album, “Greatest Organ Works Arranged for Accordion”, featuring works by J.S. Bach and F. List. Through his transcriptions of pieces by J.S. Bach, D. Scarlatti, J.P. Rameau, F. Liszt, and others, Radu has expanded and redefined the accordion repertoire.
As both a soloist and chamber musician, Radu has captivated audiences worldwide with his musicality, technical abilities, and charisma. He has performed in some of the world’s most renowned concert halls, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Radio Concert House Copenhagen, Victoria Concert Hall, Tivoli Hall Copenhagen, Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan, and Harbin Concert Hall, among others. In 2024, he was appointed as a soloist with the National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova.
Radu’s groundbreaking contributions to the accordion repertoire and his unforgettable performances should not be missed.
