Dan Dediu (*1967, Braila) studied composition in Bucharest with Stefan Niculescu and Dan Constantinescu, and in Vienna with Francis Burt. Various creative or research scholarships (Herder and Alban Berg – Vienna, Ircam – Paris, New Europe College – Bucharest, Science College – Berlin, Villa Concordia – Bamberg) have played a decisive role in his compositional development. He has composed more than 180 works covering almost all musical genres: 6 symphonies and other pieces for orchestra (Narcotic Spaces, Ornements, Studii-Motto, Spaima, Frenesia, Mantrana, Grana, Verva, Atlantis, Spini, Elegia minacciosa, Levante, Destinal, Formido, Fandacsia), 13 concertos (saxophone, viola, violin, piano, cello, flute, guitar, double concerto for violin, cello and orchestra, double concerto for cello, triple concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra, triple concerto for flute, clarinet, cello and orchestra), 7 string quartets, chamber music in various ensembles, piano music, choirs, lieder, a ballet (Altitza), five operas (Post-fiction, Münchhausen, Eva! , O scrisoare pierdută, D’ale carnavalului) and a ConcertOpera (Wagner Under).
Winner of several national and international composition prizes (Vienna, Dresden, Paris, Berlin, Ludwigshafen, 12 prizes of the Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania, Romanian Academy Prize, Enescu Prize), Dan Dediu is published by „Editura Muzicală”, „Editura UNMB” and „Peermusic” (Hamburg-New York). His works have appeared on CD in Romania (Casa Radio, Editura Muzicală), Germany (Pro Viva, Cavalli Records, Neos, Klanglogo), Australia (Move Records), Netherlands (NM Extra).
As artistic director he coordinated the International New Music Week festival (1999, 2001, 2007-2008, 2016-2023) and the Profil festival (2004 and 2006).
Dan Dediu is a professor of composition, was head of the composition department at the National University of Music in Bucharest, is the artistic director of the Profil ensemble, and was the rector of the National University of Music in Bucharest from 2008-2016.
He also holds honorary doctorates from the University of Arts “George Enescu” in Iasi, the University of Craiova, the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts in Chișinau and the National Academy of Music “Gh. Dima” in Cluj-Napoca.
In 2022 he was elected president of the Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania.