Artistic director and conductor - Petre Neamțu, People's Artist

Petre Neamţu was born in 1950. He graduated the „Stefan Neaga” Music College and the State Conservatory „Gavriil Musicescu”. Between 1973 - 1986 he was a professor at the „Stefan Neaga” Music College and since 1985 he is a lecturer at the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts.

 He began his artistic career in 1972, working as a conductor of the „Hora” song and dance ensemble. Since 1985 he has been the head of the „Folclor” Popular Music Orchestra. Petre Neamţu is the author and arranger of many orchestra productions, which are recorded and kept in the National Radio-Television funds. He is the author of manuals and collections of orchestral pieces, instrumental ensembles as well as pieces for solo instruments.

 Under the leadership of Petre Neamţu, the orchestra performed tours in Romania, Poland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, USA etc. Petre Neamţu with the „Folclor” Orchestra attended several editions of the Romanian Festival-Contest „Maria Tănase” in Craiova and at the „Crizantema de Aur”, a competition of creation and interpretation of the musical romance from Târgovişte.

 The Romanian Government, the Ministry of Culture and Cults, mentioned the exceptional contribution of Petre Neamțu in the organization of the National Contest Festival of the Romanian People's Songs „Maria Tănase” with a Diploma of Excellence. The „Folclor” Orchestra, headed by Maestro Petre Neamţu, was able to accompany the greatest performers of folk songs from all the folkloric regions of Romania, both in Craiova and Chisinau, where the Echoes of the „Maria Tănase” Festival are organized.

 Petre Neamţu holds the following honorary titles and state distinctions: in 1989 - Emeritus Artist of the Republic of Moldova; 1993- „Civic Merit” medal; 2000 - the Order of „Gloria Muncii” and in 2010 - People’s Artist.