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The Moldovan choral conductor, Ilona Stepan, studied at the Special Music School "Eugen Coca" (1971-1982), then at Conservatorul de Stat al Moldovei in Chisinau (1982-1987), and at the
Academia de Muzică "G. Musicescu" in Chisinau, in the Choral Conducting specialty, graduating with high merits (1993-1995). She later completed her conducting skills (post-graduate studies) at the
Academia de Muzică in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
From 1987 to 1990, Ilona Stepan was the leader of the children's ensemble "Speranța", participating in various concerts and festivals and gaining numerous diplomas and mentions. Since 1991 she has been working at the
Academia de Muzică, Teatru şi Arte Plastice (AMTAP) in the conducting department, and since 1997 she has been the director of the department as well as the artistic director of the choir. In 1999 she founded and since then she is coordinating the band "UniVox" (Vocal Band), being also the leader of this choral formation, which participated in various festivals jazz, both national and international. Since March 2002, Ilona Stepan has become the conductor of the Union Fenosa Choir (currently the
Corul Național de Cameră (National Chamber Choir of Moldova)). Laureate of international competitions, this choir has been active in the concert institution of national rank - Sala cu Orgă (Organ Hall), becoming one of the most performing and distinguished choral ensembles in the country.
Ilona Stepan is constantly invited to major international competitions as a member of the jury. She received the Soros Foundation's scholarship in 2000. She was awarded at several international competitions (Spain - 2004; Poland - 2005, Romania - 2013) and festivals, and at two of them she was awarded the special prize for the best conductor: The International Choral Music Competition "Europe it's a Songs", Barcelona, Spain 2002; The International Coral Interpretation of Romance Music, Vlajovo-Brezy, Czech Republic, 2003. She is appreciated for her high professionalism, exceptional artistic and organizational skills. She is currently having a massive and successful artistic activity, evaluating in numerous concerts, competitions, international choral performing festivals and owning a rich repertoire of choral music. In February 2013, she was unanimously accepted as Artistic Director and first conductor of the famous
Capele Corale Academice "Doina". Thus, she currently leads four choral formations, with which he performs in various prestigious concerts, competitions, and festivals.
Ilona Stepan is also invited as choirmaster at important world premieres such as the modern version of Tchaikovsky's Masepa and Verdi's Macbeth, staged in Dublin - Ireland. Her Honorary titles: "Emerited Artist" (2013), in 2020, by presidential decree, she was awarded the highest honorary title of the Republic of Moldova in the field of culture – Artist of the People. In 2021 the collective was awarded the "Gavriil Musicescu" music prize for the year of 2020. |
