At Avenor, the Parents’ Choir has become more than just a musical project – it’s a celebration of community, passion, and the joy of singing together.
What began as a modest initiative with just a few members has grown spectacularly, bringing together over 30 parents who, with their energy and enthusiasm, turn every rehearsal and event into a special moment.
Find out from Ioana Gafencu – teacher of music and the initiator of this project, how this success story came to life within our community.
Eight years ago, when I joined Avenor, I was thrilled to discover the Teachers’ Choir, a group of passionate colleagues who enjoy singing together. It’s not about singing professionally—that’s not the goal. It’s about the joy of singing together and bringing happiness to those around us. Beyond the enthusiasm of the choir members, the excitement of students when they see their teachers perform is immense. They are always delighted to participate in the artistic moments prepared by teachers for special occasions—like Romania’s National Day, Christmas, or Cultural Celebration Day—when our community comes together.
For me, this project was a perfect fit. I am, at my core, a pianist. I graduated from the Bucharest Conservatory, majoring in Musical Performance, Piano. Since entering George Enescu Music High School in 9th grade, I’ve been involved in choir singing, and my passion for it has only grown since. Singing in a choir brings me immense satisfaction. That’s why one of my dreams has always been to lead and sing alongside a choir. It’s my way of sharing the joy of music with those around me.
The children’s choir—Just Sing—was the first choir I directed at Avenor. Being part of such a connected community, the idea of forming a Parents’ Choir came naturally about two years ago.
I launched this project with great emotion, sending an invitation to all parents in our community. The only requirement was a passion for music. I wasn’t looking for professionals or specialists, just the joy of singing and spreading that joy through music.
To my delight, many parents responded positively to my invitation, and I quickly realized how much a project like this was needed and how beneficial it is for both the choir members and their audiences. Music is a form of therapy that shows its effects every Monday morning when the Parents’ Choir meets for rehearsal. Monday mornings have become a small celebration of singing, positive energy, and well-being.
What started with just over 10 participants has grown to over 30 members. Initially, we timidly prepared one or two songs, but now we’ve become a true force with a full schedule and a rich repertoire.
I must admit that the enthusiastic reception of our performances by the entire community—students, parents, and teachers—has greatly contributed to this evolution. As a conductor, it’s fantastic to witness the growth of this project so dear to me and the dynamic development of our choir during both rehearsals and performances.
We sing with joy at every community event, and, because I dream big, I aim to take Avenor choirs beyond our campus. After the extraordinary experience with Just Sing at the Musica Orbis Festival in Prague in summer 2024, where we participated in a choir competition, it’s now the Parents’ Choir’s turn to make its voice heard beyond the school.
Poveste de Crăciun Charity Concert, an initiative born from an invitation by Father Francisc Doboș, a dear friend of our community, offers us the perfect opportunity.
In this concert, aimed at supporting a humanitarian cause organized by the Roman Catholic Church of Sacre-Coeur, the students from Just Sing and the parents from the Parents’ Choir, alongside a special guest—Nicholas Lupu, a professional opera singer, actor, and trainer with experience in various artistic fields—will perform on December 14 for an audience eager to experience moments of joy and emotion.
Beyond this major event, we will carol throughout December on various occasions—at the Winter Shows, the Christmas Fair, and during our alumni’s homecoming—spreading the joy of singing to everyone.
I would like to thank all the members of the Parents’ Choir for their energy, enthusiasm, and the magic this project brings to our community.
