Celebrating 50 years of music education at 'Simion Gogu' school
For five decades, the 'Simion Gogu' music school in the village of Vărăncău, Soroca County, has been nurturing children’s passion for music, art, and beauty.
Today, students from both the local community and neighbouring villages, including those from Florești County, attend the school. The children are taught to play a wide range of musical instruments, including wind instruments. Driven by their passion, some travel dozens of kilometres, occasionally on foot, to attend lessons and pursue their dream of becoming musicians.
Andrian Știrbu attends the arts school twice a week and comes from the village of Tîrgul Vertujeni in Florești County.
"I play three instruments: piano, flute, and saxophone. It’s a passion of mine because I enjoy discovering new friends and new instruments, and I want to continue doing this," he says.
At the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the school's founding, the students, alongside their teachers, gave an impressive recital.
"At our school, we teach a variety of musical instruments: nai, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, piano, and cymbals. We also have a choir, an ensemble, and a folk band," said the school principal, Ludmila Eftodi.
"After attending this institution, the children continue their studies at the Pedagogical University in Bălți, and some, or even most, of the teachers have returned to the village," added Grigore Bucătaru, head of the culture department.
Among the teachers who returned to their hometown is Laura Panici. She has been teaching her favourite instrument, the violin, for 41 years.
"I was the first student to step into the music school, and I really loved the violin. I especially admired how Serghei Lunchevici played the flute and conducted," said teacher Laura Panici.
At the 'Simion Gogu' music school in Vărăncău, 70 children, aged 7 to 15, are currently enrolled.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
