Radu Rusu is a professional horn player and passionate potter. Born and raised in Cluj (Romania), Radu holds a Bachelors degree from the National Conservatory of Music in Bucharest and a MM degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio (USA). His first professional job was won at the age of 22 with the “George Enescu” Philarmonic in Bucharest. While in Romania he also collaborated and toured extensively with numerous Romanian professional ensembles throughout Europe. Radu joined the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in 2002 as assistant principal/utility horn after several years of collaborating with orchestras such as the Atlanta Symphony, the Alabama Symphony and numerous other American orchestras.

Radu's introduction to “mud handling” came early in his childhood from his father - Ioan Rusu - an accomplished sculptor and fine arts professor in Cluj, Romania. Since the age of 4 Radu often stopped by his father’s studio and, while playing with clay, he would watch his father work either in clay, wood, or stone. At age eight Radu started sculpting in stone under his father’s guidance. Nine years later, and due mostly to the increased difficulty of the Music High School curriculum, Radu had to quit his hobby and focus more on his musical career. Now, 20 years later and 4500 miles away, Radu rediscovered his passion for clay molding - this time becoming a true passion that will last a lifetime. 

We are proud to offer these unique hand crafted french horn mugs created by Radu Rusu for Cantesanu Horns.