Mihai Trăistariu

HIDDEN ERROR: Usage of "Voice Type" is not recognized

Mihai Trăistariu (Romanian pronunciation: [miˈhaj trəjstaˈri.u]; born on 16 December 1979 in Piatra Neamț, Romania), also known as simply Mihai (stylized as M I H A I) is a Romanian singer, songwriter and composer. He is best known for representing Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 held in Athens, Greece, where he placed 4th with his song, "Tornerò".

Biography

Trăistariu comes from a artistic family. His father, Gheorghe Trăistariu, was one of the most famous painters of Piatra Neamţ and his mother, Natalia Trăistariu, studied medicine and went on to be a musician in her youth. Trăistariu has three siblings: Geanina Trăistariu, Constantin Trăistariu and Vasile Trăistariu. All four play a musical instrument: Mihai plays the piano, Geanina plays the violin, Vasile plays the piano, and Constantin plays the trumpet and the guitar. Mihai studied piano for 10 years with a private teacher.

Mihai graduated from the "Al. I. Cuza" University in Iași, with double major in mathematics and informatics and also Theatre University in Constanta ( OVIDIUS), but chose to pursue a singing career. He graduated from the National College "Petru Rares" (high school) in Piatra Neamţ, mathematics-physics section. At 16 years of age he began to take courses in acting-directing with actor Corneliu Dan Borcia, the manager of the "Youth Theater " in Piatra Neamţ. At age 17, Mihai heard Mariah Carey's "Without You" and he began to train his voice. He went to Iași, joined the jazz courses of the Student House, led by composer and teacher Romeo Cozma.