I do what I love and what represents me, and I want to believe that I do it well, with much passion and dedication. I study and practice research in musical and choreographic folklore, but I am also concerned with biodiversity conservation and the protection of natural resources.
I have been part of “Plăieșii” since 2014. Over time, this group has become a second family for me, a place where I feel as comfortable as at home. “Plăieșii” means, first of all, a very tightly knit team, attitude, honesty, youth, and art.
When I joined “Plăieșii,” I already knew many songs from the ensemble’s repertoire, but during the period when rehearsals began, I was learning the program of religious songs. “The Hymn of Faith” was the first song I wrote down in my notebook. My favorite song is “La casa de omenie” because this was the song discovered during my first folklore expedition with “Plăieșii.”
From Nicolae Gribincea, you can only learn good things; he always instills in us that when you want to succeed at something, you must do it with love. The director of the “Plăieșii” school instills punctuality, honesty, kindness, and love of the nation in his students. A member of “Plăieșii” must first and foremost be a devoted person and, of course, talented. Because the ensemble has a very busy schedule, one must be prepared to face long and tiring journeys and, when necessary, mobilize quickly and go on the attack. God Himself has willed to gather in “Plăieșii” good young men who know their purpose, do their job with dedication, and create beautiful things.
The traditional costume is a gem of our people; it is what identifies us as a nation, and when we wear it, it certainly demands respect for what is ours. I am proud to wear the hat and coat because I am a son of a worthy people.
Folklore expeditions are the foundation of the “Plăieșii” Ethnofolkloric Ensemble. Thanks to these expeditions, we have accumulated a vast repertoire of songs and dances. Being myself the artistic director of a children’s folklore ensemble, I know how hard it is to gather an authentic and valuable repertoire. I am proud that for four years I have participated in the folklore expeditions of “Plăieșii,” where I have already found several pieces that have over 1 million views on YouTube.
Songs have always brought good people together around us, and obviously, this has happened in my life as well. Thanks to “Plăieșii,” I have made new friends and met wonderful people along the way. Our audience comes to the shows because they know they will always see something new. No “Plăieșii” performance has ever been the same. I am happy when I see people of all ages at the concert—from children to young people to the elderly: “From the baby with milk in their mouth to the one with a gray beard,” as the saying goes.