President of the Jury Cornel GrozaPermanent Conductor of the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir
In 1986, Cornel Groza took over the direction of the Choir. Charismatic, uncompromising, perfectionist, expressive and analytical in his work, Cornel Groza is a musical personality who built on the accomplishments of his predecessors, making a first-class choir out of an already mature ensemble. His formation, first as a member of Cappella Transylvanica (subsequently as its very leader) and a founding member of the Philharmonic Choir, Cornel Groza has remained faithful to the tradition of his masters while, at the same time, making his own voice heard: his history with the Choir is defined by the ensemble’s most important international achievements, acclaimed by audience and critics alike.
Patrick RussillHead of Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, London
Patrick Russill is recognised as one of the leading figures in English church music, as performer, teacher, and scholar of wide sympathies. He combines the post of Director of Music of the London Oratory with that of Head of Choral Conducting at the Academy, where he is also a professor of organ.
Roland BörgerHead of Choral Conducting at Hochschle fur Musik und Theatre Mendelssohn, Leipzig
Roland Börger was born in Santiago de Chile. He studied church music and choral and orchestral conducting at the University of Music in Freiburg, Germany.
Adrian PopComposer and PhD Proffessor at the Gh. Dima Music Academy
Adrian Pop was born in 1951 in Cluj. After acquiring a solid basic knowledge in music from his father, Dorin Pop, an eminent professor and choir conductor, he studied composition at the “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj between 1970 and 1976, with professors Sigismund Toduţă and Cornel Ţăranu.
Cristian Bence-Muk Composer and Director of the Composition and Conducting Department at the Gheorghe Dima Music Academy
Cristian Bence-Muk (born on 31 st of August1978, Deva) graduated Composition at Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, Cluj Napoca, Romania with PhD Prof. Hans Peter Türk in 2002 and in 2005 obtained the Academic Title PhD in Music with the specialization „Musical creation”with PhD Prof. Cornel Ţăranu.
Ciprian Para Permanent conductor of the Ave Musica Choir, PhD Proffesor in Choir Conducting at the Gherge Dima Music Academy
The conductor Ciprian Para, university lecturer, Ph.D. of “Gh. Dima” Music Academy, began his music training at “Ion Vidu” Music High School in Timişoara, continuing his studies at “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, major: conducting the academic choir, class of the university professor Florentin Mihăescu.
Mihaela Cesa-Goje Assistant Proffessor in Choir Conducting at the Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, Music Director of Jubilate Chamber Choir, Associate of the Royal
In December 2016 Mihaela debuted with Dallas Opera selected out of 156 candidates for the Women Conducting Institute and in April 2017 she worked in residence at San Francisco Opera in partnership with the Adler Fellows.
