The 12th edition of the National Contest-festival of pop music for children and youth “Steaua Chisinaului-2006” (“The Star of Chisinau”) will take place at the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” on December 9-10. The director of the Festival, Traian Vasilcau told Info-Prim Neo that 40 singers divided into two categories participate in the festival – 20 at the category for children and 20 – youth category. The participants had been selected out of 100 contesters. According to Vasilcau, the participants of both sections are from different regions of Moldova, including from Transnistria. Regardless of the nationality, each participant will perform a song in Romanian, fact which justifies the title of National Festival. 20 children aged 8-13 will compete on Saturday and another 20 young people aged 14-30 – on Sunday. A micro recital will be presented in the first evening by the children, who won at the international contests, and other recitals will be presented by Galina Gherman, Gabriel Dorobantu and other pop stars – on the second day. The festival will end on Sunday with the Awarding Ceremony. The best singers from both categories will be awarded0 the Grand Prix of MDL 6 thousand, 1st place – MDL 5 thousand, 2nd place – MDL 3 thousand and the 2nd place – MDL 2 thousand. In different years, the Grand Prix was won by artists who are today well-known, such as Galina Gherman, Nelly Ciobanu, Natalia Barbu, Victoria Mahu, Rodica Novac, Tatiana Cerga, Natalia Gordienco.