Father George Jambore, there is a very special event taking place at the Patriarchate Palace which blends faith in God with music, the national stage of the 'Praise the Lord' Church Music Festival-Contest, at its 9^th edition. How have the choral ensembles that have reached this final phase been selected and who are they?

This festival contains two sections: section A, interpretation, and section B, composition. So far we've had the metropolitanate stage, which is a preselection stage. University choirs are the ones taking part. Those that have qualified for the final stage are the University of Bucharest's 'Imnodia' Men's Choir, then from the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Bucovina, the 'Mitropolitul Iosif Naniescu' University Men's Choir of 'Alexandru Ioan Cuza' University in Iași. From the Metropolitanate of Ardeal, the 'Psalmodia Varadiensis' Chamber Choir of the University of Oradea, from the Metropolitanate of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj, the Chamber Choir of the 'Gheorghe Dima' Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, from the Metropolitanate of Oltenia, the University of Craiova's Men's Choir and from the Metropolitanate of Banat, the Men's Choir of the 'Aurel Vlaicu' University in Arad.

What must each of the choirs interpret?

Three musical works of their choosing. A religious orthodox work from the Romanian repertoire, an international repertoire religious work and a Romanian folklore-inspired work. Moreover, the finalist choirs will give their answers to churches, monasteries in Bucharest, during the Divine Liturgy on 27^th October, with the occasion of the Feast Day of Saint Demetrius the New, protector of Bucharest.

Will the winning song too be interpreted in the composition section?

On 6^th October, the jury members, and I can name them: Mr. Constantin Arvinte - composer, Ph.D. University Associate Professor Diana Vodă and Ph.D. University Assistant Professor Florian Costea from the National University of Music Bucharest, assessed the works of eight Romanian composers. Four of these will be awarded prizes at the festival-contest on 27^th October, at Patriarchy Palace at 18:00. I am speaking of Mr. Marcu Șerban from the 'Gheorghe Dima' Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, who won 1^st place, then archdeacon Father Ștefan Constantin Răzvan from the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Bucharest, who won 2^nd place. 3^rd place was won by Mr. Alexandru Ștefan Murariu, from the 'Gheorghe Dima' Music Academy in Cluj. An honorable mention went to Mr. Horațiu Alexandrescu from the Orthodox Theology Faculty in Constanța. The event aims to contribute to a better knowledge of God, to a growing unity between the youth. We support authentic interpretations of church music, and try to promote talented church music groups. Section A's jury members are: Ph.D. University Assistant Professor Valentin Gruescu from the National University of Music Bucharest, Professor Vasile Negură, choir master of the 'Fantasia' Chorale from Vaslui, Professor Iosif Fritz, choir master of the 'Apullum' Choir from Alba Iulia, Professor Father Vasile Stanciu, dean of the Orthodox Theology Faculty in Cluj-Napoca, Mrs. Manuela Enache, choir master of the 'Oltenia' Philharmonic's Academic Chorale in Craiova and University Professor Sabin Păutza.