Maya Badian

"Maya Badian: A new voice in a new country. Strong and convincing."

-Dr. Alexander Brott, O.C., June 17, 1993

"From my earliest recollections I was possessed by sounds, by an inner music," -Maya Badian, November 4th, 2010

"Maya Badian's Symphony: Holocaust- In Memoriam is a sober, introspective and powerful work, accessible to nearly every listener. [It] will probably be reckoned as one of music's most important statements on the Holocaust."

The Ottawa Citizen, Classical recordings.

-"Holocaust symphony an important statement" by Richard Todd, September 13, 1997

"If it does not use some of the extreme devices discovered by earlier 20th-century composers, [Maya Badian's music] does reflect the accumulated wisdom of a century of experiment and invention"

-The Ottawa Citizen "One of our own" by Richard Todd, March 18, 1997

Because of the Communist power at the time, when Maya graduated from primary school in 1958, she tried to enter high school but was rejected twice for social reasons. She could then only enter Petöfi Sándor High School in Bucharest where they spoke Hungarian. Maya did not speak a word of Hungarian. She then only had two weeks to prepare for the entrance exams and memorize the 14 Hungarian review books. She studied hard and passed the entrance exams. During high school years, Maya learned a new language that broadened her life.

After 2 years at Petöfi Sándor High School (1958-1960), Maya moved to a high school in Bucharest and graduated in 1962. During these years, she only learned music privately outside of school to receive a normal education. Also during that time, Maya prepared for the entrance exams for Music Conservatory under Professors Angela Marbe (piano) and Victor Iusceanu (music theory).

In June, 1962, Maya was admitted to the Department of Composition, Conducting and Pedagogy of the Cirprian Porumbescu Conservatory of Music in Bucharest (now the National University of Music). Two years later, the Conservatory was going to accept 4 students into the Composition Department. Of the 27 applicants, Maya was the only female accepted. Mayas teachers at the Conservatory included:

• Dan Constantinescu
• Tiberiu Olah
• Mihail Andricu
• Aurel Stroe
• Anatol Vieru

Maya graduated in June 1968 with the 3rd best grade in the country.

Maya struggled immensely to have the rights to be an intellectual artist during that time, due to the continued Communist reign. She married Ioan Negulescu, but they would divorce 2 years later because he didn't accept her musicality. Within that marriage, her son, Mircea was born on November 16th 1967. A few years later, she met Viorel Lucian Munteanu who was a civil engineer and had a huge admiration for Maya's music. They were married on March 12, 1977. They wanted to move to Canada, but at the time, those applying for emigration were denied and lost the right to employment and considered a "persona non-grata" in Romania. Through the struggles, the couple and Mircea emigrated to Montreal, Canada on September 4, 1987.

When emigrated to Canada, Maya had to restart her music career all over again and within a few years, she earned the title of leading composer, musicologist and professor.

Mircea, Maya's son was a gifted musician, a great percussionist, handsome, warm and generous. At the age of 21, Mircea became sick and was diagnosed with Hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cancer. He suffered for 8 months and on March 7, 1989 at 10:00pm, Maya watched Mircea pass away. It was an immense tragedy for Maya, but only his final words were enough to help her continue her career.

"Do not every complain and do not tell everybody that your son is gone. Do not cry, even when I will be buried. Everybody has his or her own pains. Do not ever give up, not abandon your music. It is music which makes you so special and distinguishes you from others. It is your calling, your vocation. Take care of your husband, and never neglect yourself. Be the same as I knew you, as you always were: an amazing tonic for others, very strong, and filled with optimism. In time's infinity it is not that important if you live for 20 or 90 years. The main thing in life is how we live and not how long. I was the happiest one in the world to have such parents as you and Viorel, and to do everything I wanted both in my career, and in my personal life- short, but intense and wonderful."

-Mircea Badian

Maya continued her musically studies years later. She received a doctorate with highest distinction in composition from the University of Montreal as a student of André Prévost. Maya was the only student ever to complete a doctoral degree with highest distinction, in only two years (1990-1992) Three years after this milestone, she moved to Ottawa.

Dr. Maya Badian is a Senior Theoretical Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations College of Examiners, a workshop clinician, and adjudicator. She has also accepted a position as an official Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations Exam Marker, an Exam Writer and a Proofreader. At her self owned and founded music studio, she teaches:

• Basic Rudiments

• Intermediate Rudiments

• Advanced Rudiments

• Introductory Harmony

• Basic Harmony

• Intermediate Harmony

• Counterpoint

• Advanced Harmony

• Analysis

• History 1: An Overview

• History 2: Middle Ages to Classical

• History 3: 19th Century to Present

• Comprehensive Theory

As a sign of outstanding recognition of Dr. Maya Badian’s place in Canadian music, in 1993, Library and Archives Canada purchased and preserves her entire output of manuscripts, archival documents, and recordings officially titled MAYA BADIAN ARCHIVAL FONDS MUS 228.

On April 2, 1992 in Montreal, Maya's husband, Lucian, founded LUCIAN BADIAN EDITIONS to better promote her music. Maya is also the only Canadian/Romanian composer to have her life in an international biography work: "Maya Badian, Her Life and Her Music: A Privilege to Soar" by Fred Popovici, published in 2003.

Maya is warm, loving, caring, generous and takes great care of people. All of Maya Badian's hard work and dedication through hard times shows all of us that she is a strong and admirable person.

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Maya Badian

Early Life

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Maya Badian was born on April 18th 1945 in Bucharest Romania to Suzana Krausz and Hugo Badian, Maya was fond of music from a young age. Beginning piano lessons at the age of 5 on her birthday as a birthday gift, she began an artistic journey that would change her life.

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Maya at her 1st piano lesson

Maya's parents emigrated to Canada on April 4th, 1988 to Montréal. She received her Canadian citizenship on March 13th 1991.

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Her sister, Diana, was born on May 2nd 1948. Her first composition was Autumn Leaf, which was composed for the piano. In 1959, Maya told her mom about her hope and commitment to become a professional composer.

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Compositions dedicated to Canadian Scenery

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Maya Badian dedicated many of her major compositions to the Canadian scenery:

• Reflets laurentiens, Double Concerto for Clarinet and Saxophone
• Canadian Wilderness and Stillness, Symphonic Evocation on the Group of Seven
• Mirrored Reflections in the Ottawa Valley for string orchestras
• MultiMusic Canada - A Legacy for the New Millennium, Orchestral fresco inspired by the Canadian multiculturalism.

Maya Badian consulting with conductor Gheorghe Mustea at a rehearsal in Kishinev, Moldova, for MultiMusic Canada, a Legacy for the New Millennium.

The Music and Style of Maya Badian

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The Catalogue of Maya Badian’s compositions includes symphonic music, concertos, cantatas, chamber music, music for solo instruments, and also for multi-media.

Badian’s unique compositional style is based on a blend of contemporary music expressions and techniques, unusual sonorities from eastern European countries, and Canadian sound-scape, reaching the highly creative level of her music, and resulting in her worldwide fame.

"Orchestral Mirrors of Life: Maya Badian's Music" - Film Teaser

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Other Facts

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• The world premiere of "Holocaust-In Memoriam, Symphony" was on June 24th 1995
• On June 7th 1998, her pre-concert presentation of "Holocaust- In Memoriam, Symphony" was broadcast across many channels in New York such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx.
• In 1998, the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C, purchased her published works
• In 1999 she received an award for her "Piano Concerto" at Du Maurier New Music Festival Canadian Composers Competition, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• On June 18th, 2002, the Canadian premiere of "Holocaust- IN Memoriam, Symphony" at Soloway Jewish Community Centre Auditorium.

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Bibliography

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• http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=206311
• http://www3.sympatico.ca/badian/RCME.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Badian
• Maya Badian: Her LIfe and Her Music: A Privilege to Soar by Fred Popovici

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Dr. Maya Badian, May 5, 1992

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