Ciortea was born in
Brașov and began his music studies under in
Cluj. He went on to study at the Bucharest Conservatory (now the
National University of Music) under
Ion Nonna Otescu and in Paris under
Nadia Boulanger and
Paul Dukas. He lived most of his life in
Bucharest where he taught for over thirty years at the Bucharest Conservatory. Amongst his students there were the composers
Liana Alexandra,
Irina Odagescu,
Maya Badian, and
Carmen Petra Basacopol. His compositions concentrated on
chamber music and
art song and were influenced by the French chamber music tradition and the traditional folksongs of
Transylvania. He was awarded in 1971 the
Order of the Star of the Romanian Socialist Republic, 3rd class, He is buried in the graveyard next to the
Tocile Church in
Șcheii Brașovului. The Tudor Ciortea Memorial House in Brașov contains some of his personal effects and instruments as well as a portrait of his wife, the dancer and choreographer . The music school, Liceul de Muzică "Tudor Ciortea", in Brașov is named in his honour, as is the city's annual chamber music festival. A street in Cluj-Napoca also bears his name. ==References==