Born in Bucharest into a family of musicians, Mihaela Smolean started playing the piano at the age of four and the violin at five. She studied at the “George Enescu” High School of Music and the Conservatory of Bucharest, obtaining the first prize in violin and chamber music. She began her career as a soloist at the age of 14 and won her first violin and chamber music prizes in 1983, in duo, trio and quartet. In 1985 Mihaela became concertmaster of the “A. Toscanini” Youth Symphony Orchestra in Parma, Italy.

In 1993 inspiration pushed her to France where she obtained a position with the Orchestre National d’Ile de France, and in 1996 she won a competition with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. In parallel with the Orchestre de la Chapelle Royale de Dreux, she toured extensively as concertmaster and soloist. Mihaela’s openness to people and especially to children led her to share her knowledge in the conservatories of Presle and L’Isle Adam for a while.

Often invited by Radioteleviziunea Româna [Romanian Radiotelevision]for concerts and recordings, in 1992 she took part as soloist in the tour of France of the Chamber Orchestra of Radiotelevision in Bucharest. Many concerts as a soloist in Romania, Italy and France followed.

In 1997 Mihaela won the First Prize at the International Competition T.I.M. (Turneo Internazionale di Musica) in Rome, which resulted in many recitals in Europe, including the first one in Florence.

Mihaela Smolean is one of the founding members of the ensemble Contempo, an ensemble with an international career since 2002.