Arhanghelii

Rumunsko

The choir was founded in 1945, at the inauguration of the Orthodox Church "St. arch. Michael and Gabriel" in Orastie, Hunedoara county, Romania. ARHANGHELII (The ARCHANGELS) is a parish choir, led, from 2012, by the young conductor Ioan Marius Popa (25 years old), PhD student at "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu. All the members of the choir, except the conductor, are amateurs, without any musical studies. The choir's activity is not limited to the service of the parish, but also extends to religious or secular music concerts in Orastie, and in other towns and cities. Since 2005, the choir participates at festivals, particularly of sacred music. At these festivals, the choir has been well appreciated, winning numerous prizes in competitions. First participation at an international competition was in November 2014, in Prague, at International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music – “Petr Eben” Prize, where “Arhanghelii” earned the Bronze Diploma. This year, the choir was invited at two festivals (without competition) in Romania (Caransebes and Lugoj), where he was the highest-rated ensemble.