Praised by the prestigious newspaper “La Voix” (Marq-en-Baroeul, Lille, France) as “Isadora, the fairy pianist” during a tour of concerts in France when she was only 16, Isadora Pastragus has emerged since then as a major presence on the stages of Europe and the United States. A regular soloist with the world acclaimed National Symphony Orchestra of Iasi (Romania), Ms. Pastragus also enjoys an international career performing with Bacau Symphony Orchestra (Romania), the prestigious National Symphony Orchestra of Kishinev (Moldova, former USSR), the famous Orchestre National de Lille (France), the Royal National Harmony Orchestra (Brussels, Belgium), and the Firelands Symphony Orchestra (Ohio, Unites States). She recorded her first CD with the Oberlin Conservatory Orchestra (Oberlin, Ohio) which was broadcast live on Cleveland WCLV radio. Earning critical acclaim for her performances, Isadora’s playing has been frequently described in major newspapers as brilliant and charismatic – a combination of impeccable technical virtuosity and contagious temperament. 

Ms. Pastragus commenced her piano studies at the age of four in her native town Iasi, Romania and then transferred to the elite George Enescu Specialized School of Music for Gifted Children in Bucharest. Only six years later she made her concert debut as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Iasi, and, at the age of 11 she won her first national competition medal in Bucharest. Since then, she has been a finalist or a winner in several international competitions, such as: the World Piano Competition (Cincinnati, Ohio), Van Cliburn Young Artists Competition (Forth Worth, Texas), Mathilde-Horlait- Dapsens, International Chamber Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium). 

As a student of Evgheni Moghilevsky at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, Belgium, she obtained her Premiere Prix and Diplome Superior with Great Distinction. In 2000, Isadora was recruited to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, (Oberlin, Ohio) with a full scholarship where she completed her Artist Diploma under the artistic mentorship of internationally acclaimed pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi. While at Oberlin, she was also on faculty as a vocal coach. Later on she attended Rice University Shepherd School of Music with a full scholarship and obtained a Master of Music in Piano Performance. She was then appointed as faculty in their preparatory program.  During this time, Ms Pastragus collaborated closely with Opera in the Heights in Houston, Texas where she coached vocally the soloists and ensembles for their upcoming productions.

No stranger to radio and TV performances, Ms. Pastragus playing has been broadcast many times for the Romanian National Television and Radio and Cleveland WCLV. As a chamber musician, Ms. Pastragus has performed with violinist Alla Aranovskaya (St. Petersburg Quartet) and pianist Cristina Ortiz. She joined the world-celebrated Ad Libitum quartet for a magnificent show broadcasted by the Romanian National Television. She also enjoys accompanist opportunities. Her collaboration with Elizabeth DeShong at the Orpheus International Vocal Competition in 2001 secured Ms. DeShong’s first place award and launched her career with the Metropolitan Opera and San Fransisco Opera. As a personal accompanist of Ms Zara Barrett, Ms Pastragus had accompanied her auditions to the Metropolitan Opera, Glimmerglass Opera in New York and the Pittsburgh Opera Center, where Ms Barrett was a finalist and award winner. Due to her extraordinary talent and artistic abilities, Ms. Pastragus has been frequently invited to perform for dignitaries such as Pope John Paul II, Queen Paola and Prince Philippe of Belgium, and former President George H. W. Bush. 

Having spent more than twenty years onstage and on tour, Ms. Pastragus has learned to keep herself inspired in order to inspire others. ”Every audience is an individual and it is a blessing to be overwhelmed by their appreciation” says Isadora. Fluent in English, French, Italian and Romanian, she is certain that music is the unique example of communication between souls. Isadora strongly believes that an artist should extend his or her horizons to other forms of the arts in order to be a good entertainer for the audience. Isadora has fallen in love with theater and acting in general while in graduate school at Rice University in Texas, and now, besides managing her daughter’s acting career in LA for the past 3 years, she has played in three movies in Hollywood and won gold and platinum award for best actress for two of them. One of them, Nostradamus aveva ragione su Coronavirus, was entirely written and spoken in Italian. Her daughter’s last movie, Harper, was selected for the Oscars this year.

From 2014 to 2019, Ms. Pastragus was on faculty in the Music Department of University of Nevada, Reno where she enjoyed teaching piano, vocal coaching and accompanying. Currently, she is working on a recording of Romanian-inspired works under the label Centaury Records.