Has built a reputation as one of the leading and most versatile musicians of our time. Through his work both as a virtuoso violinist and composer, he has managed to contribute to the development of a particular philosophy of new music, a music of the future, which bridges the gap between different fields; classical, folk, electronic, jazz and pop music. He has achieved this through concert music, but also through his collaborative work with film makers, choreographers, theatre directors and even fashion designers.

Born in Bucharest, Romania Alexander Balanescu made his concert debut at the age of nine. He finished his studies at the Juilliard school, New York, his main teachers having been Dolly Korizer and Dorothy Delay.

He was a member of the Arditti Quartet from 1983 to 1987, playing the contemporary classical repertoire. In 1987 he formed the Balanescu Quartet, with the goal to create a much more accessible and communicative new music.

He gained an enviable reputation as a truly interdisciplinary artist, composer, improviser as well as a performer. He has collaborated with musicians from such wide ranging fields as John Lurie, Gavin Bryars, Michael Nyman, Jack de Johnette, John Surman, Andy Shepherd, and Carla Bley. His work has also taken him to the pop world, supporting the Pet Shop Boys and recording the music of David Byrne, Kraftwerk, and the Yellow Magic Orchestra. In his quest to reconnect with his eastern european roots, his most recent projects include collaborations with the Hungarian group, Musikas, and singer Marta Sebestyen. Using folk material as a source of inspiration, Balanescu created the album "Luminitza", and has created material based on folk songs interpreted by the great romanian singer Maria Tanase. Most recently, Alexander completed a tour of England with Philip Glass and Foday Musa Suso, as special guest.