In 1991 he moved to Belgium to continue his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Liège, where he studied with Jo Alfidi and François Thiry and received the highest distinctions. He completed his training at the International Music Conservatory of Paris, where he won the Grand Prix for piano (studying with Colette Lanssens and Pascal Godart), received guidance from Alan Weiss, and participated in an advanced course with Bruno Mezzena in Pescara, Italy.
Since 2001, Gabriel has regularly performed as a soloist and chamber musician in renowned venues and festivals (Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels; Liège Philharmonic; Flagey; Festivals de Wallonie; Festival de Stavelot, etc.) across Belgium and abroad (Luxembourg, France, Romania, Italy and the United Kingdom). In 2012 he performed Chopin’s complete Études at the Midi-Concerts in the Academic Hall of the University of Liège. Recent solo highlights include Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Ploie ti Philharmonic Orchestra (February 2017) and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Arad Philharmonic Orchestra (2019). In 2020–2021 he appeared at the Stavelot Festival as part of Festival de Wallonie 2.0 and at the CRB “Beethoven 250th anniversary” festival — concerts broadcast on Musiq3. Discography and recordings: Gabriel has recorded two CDs for the AZUR-Classical label: a two-piano duo with Johan Schmidt and an album with trumpeter Julian Théodore. These recordings complement his concert activity and reflect his interest in chamber projects and diverse instrumental timbres. A winner of the 1st prize at the GRETRY competition (2006) and the 3rd prize at the International San Marino competition, he has shared the stage with artists such as Abdel Rahman El Bacha.
With his wife, the soprano Andreea Minculescu, he forms an active duo performing frequently in Romania, Belgium and France.
Deeply passionate about teaching, Gabriel regularly gives masterclasses in Romania, France and Luxembourg. He is a professor of piano at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels — where he also serves as Vice President of the Keyboard Department — and teaches chamber music at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and Liège.
Since 2010 he has frequently served as a jury member for piano competitions. He also appears on television and radio (RTBF, RTL, Musiq3), helping to extend his artistic outreach beyond the concert hall.
