(MURFREESBORO) The final chapter of the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra’s (TPO) season ended Thursday night (4/20/2023) at the Belle Aire Baptist Church on N. Rutherford Blvd. 

Get Ready To Grow!

TPO’s CEO Jane McNulty started the evening with exciting news that will financially grow the next year of music by the local symphony.

She said . . .

For more information, phone the symphony at 615-898-1862 or visit their website: Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra – Music to your ears! (tnphil.org)

Best Wishes Stefan

The Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra wished its concertmaster well as Stefan Petrescu ended two-decades in Murfreesboro and prepares a move to Florida.

His love for the Heart of Tennessee and passion for Murfreesboro began in a unique way. While touring the USA with the Romanian Symphony in 1983, Stefan developed a love for America.

The taste of freedom shared by two musicians with the Romanian Symphony exploded during their 1989 tour when they decided to risk it all and seek political asylum.

Dr. Laurence Harvin received a phone call to come to the university as an interesting situation had developed.

Once there, Laurence met with Stefan and learned that he wanted a chance to earn enough to eventually bring his wife and family here from Romania.

Harvin invited him to play with the symphony and said he would help him find other jobs to earn enough to exist on a very tight income.

In his native Romania, Petrescu already knew how to exist on very little money.

Symphony Board Member Patricia Ward and her husband Matt, gave shelter and a new beginning to Stefan. They helped to teach him English and how to fit-in with this southern lifestyle.

The talented musician did every type of work imaginable and saved every penny. His goal was to get enough to money bring his wife to America.

During that time, local developer Wayne Belt was building a subdivision, and Stefan told him that he had been saving for some time and wanted to see if there was a small home that he could purchase?

Petrescu certainly had a low-income and qualified for that type of loan. Belt helped him achieve the American dream. In fact, Stefan lived in that small home for many, many years. Over that time, a strong friendship developed.

Prior to becoming the TPO’s concertmaster, the accomplished musician won several prizes as a violin soloist in Romania. He has performed around the world: in Paris, Moscow, New Orleans, Nashville and more.  He also holds degrees from the George Enescu National University of Arts in Romania.

Murfreesboro welcomed Stefan, and eventually his wife and family, to the Heart of Tennessee. Now, the Petrescu’s say “thank you” to the people who made them a part of this community, and prepare to begin life’s next adventure with retirement in the Sunshine State.

Feel free to wish the Petrescu family well with their retirement, make comments on this post in FaceBook.