Teodor Valentin Iliescu was born in Bucharest, Romania, in 1987, and began his musical studies at the age of seven. He studied piano and bassoon at the George Enescu School of Music in Bucharest with professor PhD. Oana Velgovici (piano) and professor Trosca Mugurel (bassoon).

During his highschool years he won some very important competitons such as 3rd prize at the “Remember Enescu” international woodwind competiton, 1st prize at the “George Georgescu” international competition, and in 2004 was awarded a one-year full scholarship to study music in Edinburgh at Stewart Melville College, where he studied bassoon under the guidance of Jane Waters.

After finishing his study at G. Enescu School of Music he entered the Bucharest National Music University on a full scholarship, studying bassoon for two years with Miltiade Nenoiu and Gabriel Sava. In this period he won 2nd prize in the National Bassoon Competition and featured in several important radio and televised classical music programs.

In 2008 he transferred to Birmingham Conservatoire to study bassoon with Meyrick Alexander (Principal Bassoon in the Philarmonia Orchestra) and Nicholas Hunka (former Second Bassoon in the LSO) and contrabassoon with Margaret Cookhorn.

He has played in many orchestras, some of which include the Youth Musicians International Symphonic Orchestra (YMISO), Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, Pitesti Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucharest University Symphonic Orchestra, Sibiu Youth Orchestra, Bucharest National Radio Chamber and Symphonic Orchestra and Birmingham Conservatoire Symphonic and Wind Orchestra.

Teodor is currently completing the third year of his undergraduate studies at Birmingham Conservatoire.