Saint John of Damascus Byzantine Choir

Choir presentation

The “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir was founded in 2008 at the initiative of seminary students in Arad, born out of a love for God and church singing. The Byzantine choir includes priests, deacons, teachers, theology students, seminarians, and young people from various professional fields.

The Byzantine choir’s repertoire consists of Byzantine and local religious chants, Christmas carols, and patriotic songs.

The “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir of Arad has performed at numerous religious services and given concerts throughout the Archdiocese of Arad, as well as in neighboring dioceses: the Archdiocese of Timisoara, the Diocese of Caransebes, and the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. They have also performed at religious services and given concerts for the diaspora in Dortmund, Ulm, Augsburg (Germany), Gyula, Battonya (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), and Prague (Czech Republic).

Awards & distinctions

In 2014, the “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir of Arad participated in the national church music competition “Youth, Praise the Lord,” organized by the Romanian Patriarchate, where it won second prize.

In 2021, the “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir of Arad won third prize at the “Hajnówka” International Festival of Orthodox Religious Music, held in Bialystok, Poland, and in 2022, it participated in the Alta Pusteria Festival, held in the Val Pusteria region of northern Italy.

In 2023, our choir won the gold diploma at the Herceg Novi choral competition in Montenegro, and in 2024, we participated alongside other choirs in the Kostoski festival in Ohrid, Macedonia.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Gabriel Streulea

Since 2018, the conductor of the psaltic choir has been Father Gabriel Streulea.

Musical Activities:

  • 2006 – 2008 – Member of the men’s choir of the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Arad
  • 2008 – Received the special award for the best musical activity within the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Arad
  • 2008 – 2014 – Member of the mixed choir of the Faculty of Theology of Arad
  • 2012 – 2014 – Member of the conductors’ choir of the Faculty of Theology of Arad
  • 2013 – 2019 – Member of the “Capella Polifonica” chamber choir of Arad
  • 2008 – 2018 – Member of the “Saint John Damascene” psaltic choir of Arad
  • Since 2018 – Conductor of the “Saint John Damascene” psaltic choir of Arad
  • Since 2019 – Member of the “Cantarad” chamber choir of Arad

Musical Education:

  • 2008 – 2012 – Studies in church music and choral conducting at the Faculty of Theology of Arad
  • 2019 – Graduate of the School of Byzantine Music of the Archdiocese of Athens, Greece
  • 2024 – Admitted to the “Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music in Cluj-Napoca

listen

Would you like to participate with your choir in our festivals? Go on tour in Europe? Submit your application!

Saint John of Damascus Byzantine Choir

Choir presentation

The “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir was founded in 2008 at the initiative of seminary students in Arad, born out of a love for God and church singing. The Byzantine choir includes priests, deacons, teachers, theology students, seminarians, and young people from various professional fields.

The Byzantine choir’s repertoire consists of Byzantine and local religious chants, Christmas carols, and patriotic songs.

The “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir of Arad has performed at numerous religious services and given concerts throughout the Archdiocese of Arad, as well as in neighboring dioceses: the Archdiocese of Timisoara, the Diocese of Caransebes, and the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. They have also performed at religious services and given concerts for the diaspora in Dortmund, Ulm, Augsburg (Germany), Gyula, Battonya (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), and Prague (Czech Republic).

Awards & distinctions

In 2014, the “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir of Arad participated in the national church music competition “Youth, Praise the Lord,” organized by the Romanian Patriarchate, where it won second prize.

In 2021, the “Saint John Damascene” Byzantine choir of Arad won third prize at the “Hajnówka” International Festival of Orthodox Religious Music, held in Bialystok, Poland, and in 2022, it participated in the Alta Pusteria Festival, held in the Val Pusteria region of northern Italy.

In 2023, our choir won the gold diploma at the Herceg Novi choral competition in Montenegro, and in 2024, we participated alongside other choirs in the Kostoski festival in Ohrid, Macedonia.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Gabriel Streulea

Since 2018, the conductor of the psaltic choir has been Father Gabriel Streulea.

Musical Activities:

  • 2006 – 2008 – Member of the men’s choir of the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Arad
  • 2008 – Received the special award for the best musical activity within the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Arad
  • 2008 – 2014 – Member of the mixed choir of the Faculty of Theology of Arad
  • 2012 – 2014 – Member of the conductors’ choir of the Faculty of Theology of Arad
  • 2013 – 2019 – Member of the “Capella Polifonica” chamber choir of Arad
  • 2008 – 2018 – Member of the “Saint John Damascene” psaltic choir of Arad
  • Since 2018 – Conductor of the “Saint John Damascene” psaltic choir of Arad
  • Since 2019 – Member of the “Cantarad” chamber choir of Arad

Musical Education:

  • 2008 – 2012 – Studies in church music and choral conducting at the Faculty of Theology of Arad
  • 2019 – Graduate of the School of Byzantine Music of the Archdiocese of Athens, Greece
  • 2024 – Admitted to the “Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music in Cluj-Napoca

listen

listen

Would you like to participate with your choir in our festivals? Go on tour in Europe? Submit your application!