| The history of "Flori si Stele" choir |
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In 1976, on the initiative of Mrs. Otilia Manea, in the Grant-Bucharest Seventh Day Adventist Christian Church, the chorus of children was founded, which began to support on a regular basis music programs in the church. After Mrs. Manea’s leaving in U.S. in 1986, it was Mrs. Carmen Stoica who began to handle the choir. But after taking over the choir, Mrs. Stoica could not present more than two programs in the church, as in August 1986, at the indication of the Communism ruling of the Romanian State at that period, the building where the activities of the Grant Adventist Church used to take place, was demolished. In the period between August 1986 and May 1992, the activities of the Grant Adventist Church took place in a tent called Grant- Tent - Bucharest. In this hard period, Carmen Stoica continued to take care with great selflessness of the young talents from the church. Although in the summer children were sweltering, and in the winter they were shaking by cold in the annexes of the tent (which were actually just some barracks), these conditions have neither discouraged, nor held them back from getting together and learn songs in order to praise the Lord; instead of decreasing, the choir increased in 1991 to 105 Children aged between 6 to 18 years. Until December 1989, the children’s choral activity took place between the walls of the cloth tent, because the communist regime at that time did not allow religious activities outside the church. The events of December 1989 brought unexpected opportunities for the choir to sing outside the church and children were not taken by surprise, because they had a backed activity within the church. So, the transition from supporting programs in the church, to the public scenes in Bucharest and in country was easy and natural. The first concert outside the church was given in March 1990, within the first evangelization presented by the pastor Lucian Cristescu in Romania, in the Tanase Theater of Bucharest, Victoria Hall. On this occasion, the choir needed a name and it was chosen as name the title of a well-beloved song: “Flowers and Stars”. This first event outside the church was followed by an avalanche of concerts given in Bucharest, and also in other places of the country. The children did not choose where to sing, but they were present both on the concert scenes in Bucharest such as: Romanian Radio Hall (Sala Radiodifuziunii Romane), Multipurpose Hall (Sala Polivalenta), Children’s Palace (Palatul copiilor), Palace Hall (Sala Palatului), Palace of Culture (Targu Mures) and at the Community Centers in the Villages of Ghimpa?i and Izvoare, at the Center for disabled children in Tatarai, in the Prison in Codlea, at the Cotroceni Palace (Palatul Culturii) for the President of Romania, at the Romanian Police Forces and they also registered for the Romanian Television, etc. The children choir “Flowers and Stars” participated in 1990, 1991, 1992 to the Laudae Domini Interdenominational Competition Festival of religious choral music and placed on the first place each time and in 1993 won the Grand Prix. It participated also in 1994, 1995, 1996, but outside the competition. In 1997, the choir participated to the Yours is the Kingdom and glory Interdenominational Competition Festival and it placed on the third place. The Children’s Choir “Flowers and Stars” brought everywhere through song and verse the message of Love of Jesus. The Children Choir “Flowers and Stars” has given concerts in Bucharest and in other towns of Romania such as: Giurgiu, Bac?u, Petro?ani, Matca, Cluj, Constan?a, Timisoara, Bra?ov, Alba Iulia, Sighetul Marmatiei, S?pân?a, Reghin, Craiova, Sibiu, Pite?ti, Arad, Câmpia Turzi, R?zboieni-Ia?i, Ploie?ti and many other places. It has also given concerts in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Austria. In 1998 the choir was invited by the Theodora Foundation to Germany, where it has given 9 benefit concerts in Hamburg, Kovahl, Lüneburg, Uelzen, HH.Berne. The money they obtained was donated for the building of the senior home in Cluj-Napoca / Romania and on their way home the children gave a concert in the Church of the Austrian Union Center in Vienna. In 2001 on the initiative of the Romanian Diaspora from Paris, the choir has tour in France and has given 9 concerts in Paris, Anduze, Montpellier and Colette by Deze. On their way home they have given three concerts in the Romanian Church of Vienna for the Romanian Diaspora. In 2003 at the invitation of the Romanian Diaspora in Spain and Italy the choir has given 11 concerts in Spain - Madrid, Sagunto, Castellon and Zaragoza, between 4th and 16th of September and 5 concerts in Italy - Turin, Milan and Verona, between 18th and 23rd of September. In December 2004 the choir was invited by the Romanian Adventist Church in Vienna and has given 3 concerts for this church. In 2007, between 13th and 19th of December the choir accepted the invitation of the Ansbach Adventist Church in Germany, and has given concerts in the Adventist Churches of Rothemburg, Ansbach, Guntzhauzen and Nurnberg, and of the Romanian Baptist Churches of Nuremberg and Ansbach. In 2008, between 14th and 24th of December the choir was invited by the Theodora Foundation of Hamburg / Germany to give a number of benefit concerts in order to collect funds for building a Mother and Child Hospital in Ghana / Africa. In 2009, between 5th and 21st of April has tour in England, Belgium and Germany, where it has given 8 concerts. In 2010 the choir was selected to sing during the 59th session of the General Assembly of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, held in Atlanta / USA between 21st of June to 13th of July, and had 17 concerts and small concerts in Seventh day Adventist, Pentecostal and Baptist churches both in Atlanta and Chicago. From March 1990 until the 1st of May 2010 the choir sang in more than 436 concerts. Alone or with other guests they filled the listeners’ hearts with joy and peace. During this period the choir has travelled more than 60,000 km with train and bus together and by air around 12,000 km. Thank God that all these trips we were protected by His arms and His eyes watched over. In addition to these concerts the choir supports 6 to 8 concerts annually in the Seventh-day Adventist Church “New Grant” - Bucharest, were the choir is active since 1992, year when it was put in use the new local Seventh Day Adventist Church, located at about 100 m from where it was the church demolished in August 1986 as an indication of Communist board in that time. In March 2010, the choir celebrates 34 years of activity and 24 years since it is led by Mrs. Carmen Stoica. Over 380 children were part of the choir in these 24 years. In September 2010, the choir has a total of 80 children, and still responds with the same enthusiasm to all invitations to concerts in churches and public halls. We do not know how long God will allow the existence of this earth, but as long as he will allow, the "Flowers and Stars" choir won’t stop to present Jesus to those willing to know Him and His message of peace and love for them. And last but not least, we want to thank all those who helped the choir during the 25 years composing words, music or helping with the technical part - Benone Burtescu, Lavinia Stoica, Lariss Enache, Anca Stroiescu, Cornelia Tutunaru, Bianca Visan, Amalia Uba, Cornel Mafteiu, Mihai Marinescu, Ciprian Agapie, Ciprian Dragu si Rene Stoica. If you want to listen to children's choir "Flowers and stars" in your church or town, you can invite us by sending a letter to the address: Children's choir "Flowers and Stars", B.C.A.Z.S New Grant - Bucharest, Romania, Sector 6, Cod 060244, Lucacesti Street, no. 32. |