20 singers to perform at 4th “Maria Dragan” Folk Festival

05.07.2008 09:21
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20 singers will dispute the trophy of the 4th “Maria Dragan” Folk Music Festival, to take place on July 5-6, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the director of the National Center for Folk Creation, Iustina Scarlat, the festival aims to enrich the repertoire of the Moldovan folk singers and gain from the repertoire of the late folk singer Maria Dragan. The competitors will perform three songs of different genres, one of which must be sang without musical backup. The contesters will be accompanied by the folk music orchestra “Mugurel”. Choosing songs from Maria Dragan's repertory will be an advantage, Iustina Scarlat added. The Grand Prize is worth 3,500 lei, the first prize 2,500 lei, and the second prize 1,500 lei. There will also be two third prizes worth 1,000 lei each, and two special prizes for scenic conduct and attire worth 500 lei. The coordinator of the Festival, Silvia Zagoreanu, reminded that the Grand Prize of the previous edition went to Mariana Toctil-Mandalac from the village of Grozesti, Nisporeni district; the first prize to Ana Dogot from Horesti village, Ialoveni district; the second prize to Rodica Buhna from Iargara village, Leova district; and Vlad Zagoreanu from Capriana village, Straseni, and Ana Busila from Cigarleni, Ialoveni, shared the third prize. This year's jury is composed of 9 members, with famed singer Ioana Capraru chairing it. The qualifying competition took place on June 26. The jury had to select the finalists from among 31 aspirants. The final will take place in Maria Dragan's native village – Balauresti, Nisporeni, and the event will start with a flower-laying ceremony at the grave of the singer.