Ștefan Neaga
Ştefan Neaga (Moldavian Cyrillic: Штефан Няга; Chişinău, 7 December [O.S. 24 November] 1900 – 30 May 1951) was a Moldavian composer. He was known in Russian as Степан Тимофеевич Няга. He was the son of the moldavian "Lautar" folk musician Timofei Neaga.
From the early age he was a pianist in his father's orchestra.
At the age of 18 he graduated with high distinction the School of Music in Chisinau in the class of piano of the prominent teacher and pianist Juliy (Idely) Guz. By that time he met the romanian virtuoso Grigoraș Dinicu who invited him in his ensemble as a concert pianist, accompagnateur and arranger.
In 1920 he entered the class of piano at the Academy of Music in Bucharest. He didn't finish his course in composition due to his concert tours as a virtuoso pianist who's repertoire included works of Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, R. Strauss, etc.
In 1926 he entered again the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine arts in the class of composition of Dimitrie Cuclin. There he was absorbed by the enthusiasm of composing, and, after graduating the Academy (in 1931), he decided to go to Paris where he met again Grigoraș Dinicu. There he was advised to enter Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris in the class of composition of Nadia Boulanger, piano - with Alfred Cortot, and conducting - with Charles Munch.
The Chişinău College of Music is named for him.
References
Kishinev, Russian Empire (now Chișinău, Republic of Moldova)