I have been active in the “Plăieșii” ensemble since 2013. Thanks to my love for folklore—a feeling that was planted in my soul from a very young age—it was easy for me to adapt to this group because teamwork has gradually become more like a collegial friendship. The “Plăieșii” school means much more than music.
Mr. Nicolae Gribincea, our mentor, is like an encyclopedia. From him, I have learned many things. In fact, we are always learning something new. He is the right man in the right place and always knows how to intervene with a kind word. Five timeless values that Nicolae Gribincea instills at the “Plăieșii” school are: punctuality, dedication, inner self-development, the way you present yourself in front of the audience, and, of course, a vision of traditions.
There are unwritten but mandatory rules that every member of the “Plăieșii” ensemble must meet to be part of this collective. Each of us tries to demonstrate responsibility, a professional attitude toward our work, maximum punctuality, and ethical and aesthetic conduct at a high level. A very important moment is knowing how to wear the traditional costume, which I would define with three words: value, kinship, home.
I count myself among the few lucky ones who have had the chance to go on folklore research expeditions alongside Nicolae Gribincea. It is a wonderful experience that puts you in contact with new people—people who live in harmony and still cherish the customs and traditions of their native places. Over time, it is becoming harder to find informants, most of whom are elderly. However, we are still fortunate to encounter folklore bearers in the rural villages, from whom we collect information and take on the mission of presenting it to the wider public.
The first song I learned when I joined “Plăieșii” was “La omul care mi-i drag” (“To the Man I Love”), a song that has gathered millions of views on social media. It is a song without which we are not allowed to leave the stage, regardless of the theme of the show. Perhaps one of the hardest challenges is choosing a favorite piece from our repertoire. All are dear to me, especially the bătute dances... I am from the south.
At the beginning, we saw more middle-aged audience members at our shows, but now we are happy to see more and more young people attending. Over all these years, we have gathered people with very refined musical tastes around us, who can appreciate folk music at its true value. The audience that comes to “Plăieșii” shows seeks to nourish themselves with authentic folklore and to anoint their souls with the sacred balm from the heritage of ancestral songs.
It is a school of life guided by Mr. Nicolae Gribincea and by our audience, generous with applause and present in large numbers at our shows. These are the components that make me want to continue my activity here. The words that best describe our ensemble are: attitude, passion, diligence, talent, phenomenon.

BLITZ INTERVIEW
Motto: “Be yourself!”
The stage is a part of my life.
Folklore represents the foundational pillar of a people’s mindset.
Talent is a gift from God.
We all have it; the key is to discover it.