I am Ioana Andreea Gafencu, Primary Music Teacher and Primary Music Coordinator.

Music has been a part of my life from a very early age, and I firmly believe that learning and personal growth should continue throughout our lives. This belief guides both my professional and personal journey.

I graduated from the National University of Music Bucharest in 2009, specialising in Piano Performance and Music Pedagogy. Since then, I have continued to develop my teaching practice by exploring a variety of educational approaches. I have participated in national and international piano competitions and attended numerous music conferences and workshops, where I deepened my understanding of the Kodály and Dalcroze approaches to music education.

I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I feel privileged to have a profession that inspires and challenges me every day. I strive to build trusting relationships with my students because I firmly believe that every child has music within them and that everyone can learn to sing or play a musical instrument as part of their holistic development. Teaching is more than a profession for me – it is my passion and my way of life. I am also the proud mother of a wonderful teenager who continues to inspire me every day.

At Avenor, I am delighted to be part of a community of passionate educators who are deeply committed to learning, teaching, and supporting one another. Over the years, I have had the joy of conducting both a children’s choir and an adult choir. Through our weekly rehearsals, these choirs have become an important part of the Avenor community and now take part in many of the school’s events and celebrations.

The joy of sharing the happiness that singing brings has inspired us to organise charity concerts twice a year. The Just Sing Children’s Choir has successfully participated in international competitions alongside youth choirs from around the world, performing in renowned cities such as Rimini and Prague. I have always dreamed of being part of a school that sings, and I am grateful to say that I have found it here.