Source: Belarus News
Minsk, February 29, 2016
The Grand Prix of the 5th International Orthodox Church Music Festival Kolozha Chime was awarded to the Romanian choir Aletheia. The closing ceremony was held in the Grodno Regional Drama Theater on 27 February, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
When speaking at the ceremony Belarus Culture Minister Boris Svetlov said that the core of a man is spirituality, and such festivals contribute to its strengthening in the souls of people.
Archbishop of Grodno and Volkovysk Artemiy said that the participants of the festival were surveyed to ask, among other things, whether it was necessary to hold this event every year. All unanimously answered ‘yes' to this question. Despite financial difficulties, a decision was taken to continue holding the festival annually.
The closing ceremony of the festival continued with an award ceremony. The jury traditionally chooses winners in several categories. This year, the Grand Prix went to choir Aletheia of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Iasi, Romania conducted by Dorina Iusca.
The ceremony was followed by a gala concert with the participants performing their best pieces.
The 15th edition of the International Orthodox Church Music Festival Kolozha Chime gathered more than thirty choirs and ensembles from eight countries in the Belarusian city of Grodno. The forum was organized by the Grodno Orthodox Eparchy and the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee. The international jury included ministers of religion with special music education, professors of academies of music, composers, choirmasters, and choir directors from different countries. The festival awards winners in eight nominations.
