About me

Young raluca bojor plays on the piano in Romania.

How did a little girl from Romania follow her dream of becoming a full time musician? She had support from her family. She trusted God to provide. She kept on dreaming. Oh, and she practiced her instrument 😂 that part was not so smooth…. (ask my parents!)

Here’s me playing the piano before I knew how to play the piano.

Young Raluca plays on a grand piano at a recital in a red dress as her fellow classmates watched. Her feet did not yet reach the floor.

At age 7 my parents enrolled me at the local music school, “Liceul de Arta,” a public school which also offered music classes, such as piano lessons and theory. This type of public education is common in post-communist countries. One could say: “Oh, that’s so cool your parents never had to pay for piano lessons!” Umm… do taxes count? 😂

Here’s me playing the piano at our first grade Christmas recital, December 1999. I could use
both hands by now! (but I couldn’t reach the floor)

Raluca meeting her favorite gospel band in middle school, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.

In middle school, I attended summer programs in the United States where I studied music with some of the best musicians in the gospel industry: Eloise Phillips, Tracey Phillips, Sue C. Smith, Jack Clark. Up until then I could only play confidently by following sheet music. These wonderful teachers taught me to follow chord charts and number charts. And now I can play anything without sheet music!

Here’s me meeting my FAVORITE gospel band in middle school, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound!

Picture of Raluca wearing a pink Barbie tee in the piano recording studio at college.

In the fall of 2011 I put on my big girl pants, packed my bags and moved to the United States to attend the Wheaton College Conservatory! During those four years I learned soooooo much (I won’t bore you with my transcript) but most importantly I made some really special friendships. That’s when I met my husband! More on that later. And I went through a blond phase.

Here’s me not doing homework because the recording studio was MUCH more interesting.

Raluca singing on stage with Apel Trio a Chicago-based Romanian gospel band.

After college I started teaching piano lessons, I played in local churches, and I began playing for “Apel Trio,” a Chicago-based Romanian gospel band. They also happen to be my relatives. They sing Romanian translations of hymns and gospel songs.

Here’s me playing with my extended family.

Raluca and her husband on their wedding day pose in the park in their dress and suit.

Remember I mentioned I met my husband in college? We didn’t actually start dating until years after I graduated. Then we got engaged. Then the pandemic hit. Then we got married in spite of the pandemic. Go us!

We both share the same love for church hymns. If you come to our house, you will find the hymnal on the piano, right next to a book of Bach chorales. Yes, we are both classically trained nerds 🤓

Here’s us on our wedding day.