The leader of the Chapel Choir Doina Veronica Garstea passed away on Monday, July 16, aged 85. The people’s artist will be buried on Thursday, July 19. Speaker Marian Lupu extended his condolences to the artist’s family, friends and colleagues and to the whole people, Info-Prim Neo reports. “She was the icon and the leader of this famous ensemble. The first woman conductor in Moldova proved both her musician gifts and her remarkable organizational skills. Her work to abnegation, her talent and experience raised the Chapel Choir Doina to the heights of true professionalism, which was confirmed during the years by both critics and audiences”, reads the message. “The curtains will never fall on what Veronica Garstra did for the choir art, for our whole national culture. God rest her soul!”, wrote Marian Lupu. Veronica Garstea is a Chevalier of the Order of the Republic, a People’s Artist, laureate of the State Awards and university professor. She was born in 1927 and studied at the School of Music and the State Conservatory Gavriil Musicescu. As a conductor, she debuted on the stage of the National Philharmonics in 1958 and five years later came to lead the Chapel Choir Doina.