Forumul Cantus Mundi 2025

„Romania can play a role on the global stage through Cantus Mundi.” – Ligia Deca, Secretary-General of Comisia Națională a României pentru UNESCO

Programul Național Cantus Mundi and the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” announce a new edition of Forumul Cantus Mundi, Romania’s largest event dedicated to cultural education. The forum takes place from 1 – 8 October 2025, under the High Patronage of UNESCO, as part of the centenary programme „Marin Constantin 100”.

The official opening of Forumul Cantus Mundi 2025 will take place on 1 October – International Music Day, with a special programme broadcast by TVR Cultural, starting at 19:00.

Studio guests Mădălin Voicu, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, and Ligia Deca, Secretary-General of Comisia Națională a României pentru UNESCO, will open a debate of national interest on every child’s access to cultural education.

„Romania can indeed play a role on the global stage through Cantus Mundi. As regards early childhood education, we want the Cantus Mundi Programme to be the first practical application and an example of good practice for the Framework of Cultural and Artistic Competences, adopted by UNESCO in February 2024 in Abu Dhabi (UNESCO World Conference on Culture and Arts Education)” – said Ligia Deca, Secretary-General of Comisia Națională a României pentru UNESCO.

The inaugural programme will also feature a special recital by the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, alongside children’s choirs from Programul Național Cantus Mundi, Romania’s largest programme for social inclusion through music.

The 2025 edition of Forumul Cantus Mundi is dedicated to teachers and cultural professionals, with a focus on developing new professional skills and a strategy for integrating cultural education into the national education system. Taking place in Bucharest from 1 – 8 October, the forum includes conferences, panels and interactive sessions on a wide range of topics – from the importance of music in early childhood development, the challenges of composing music for young children and discussions about education, culture and the choral community, to masterclasses for training conductors. 

„Forumul Cantus Mundi 2025 is dedicated to teachers and cultural professionals, and for us this is an essential step: strengthening the role of cultural and arts education in schools and communities. I firmly believe that this edition will show how important it is to integrate music and the arts into the national education system”, says Leila Popovici, Director of Programul Național Cantus Mundi.

FORUMUL CANTUS MUNDI 2025 PROGRAMME

1 October | 19:00 | TVR Cultural
Official opening of Forumul Cantus Mundi 2025 – special television programme dedicated to cultural education and choral music

2 October | 16:00 – 18:00 | Casa Madrigal
„Ritm sau mesaj? Provocări în creația muzicală destinată copiilor” – a debate with Dan Dediu and Diana Dembinski on challenges and solutions in composing for children, with special guest Anna Ungureanu, conductor of the Madrigal Choir.
Register using the ONLINE FORM

3 October | Grădinița Politehnica | Casa Madrigal
„Madrigal for Babies” recital by the Madrigal Choir, conducted by Anna Ungureanu;
„Muzica pentru primii pași în viață – De la bucuria copiilor din sălile de spectacole la echilibrul părinților” – presentation of the Research Department dedicated to early childhood education through music, with music therapist Angelica Postu (Berlin)

4 October | 10:00 – 15:30 | 5 October | 10:00 – 13:30 | Casa Madrigal
„Dialoguri despre educație, cultură și comunitatea corală” – open meetings between conductors, teachers, musicians, cultural professionals and students interested in the role of music and education in community life
Register using the ONLINE FORM

Over the two days, participants will explore a range of topics: blending voices and achieving balance within the choir, vocal health, early childhood education, conductor training, innovative teaching methods, the music teacher’s role in school, leadership and inclusion through music, the psychology of musical emotions, formative experiences on tour and more.

Workshops include: „Armonia în interiorul unui cor”, „Sănătatea corului”, „Educație timpurie: necesitate, nu moft”, „Academia de dirijat”, „Școala de musical”, „Muzica altfel”, „Muzica care nu se aude”, „Tulburările de voce prin care pot trece profesorii”, „Crește-i pe cei din jurul tău”, „Profesorul de muzică în cancelarie”, „Jocul și corul”, „Comunicare și dialog în managementul corului”, „Cu corul în turneu” and others.

6–8 October | 10:30 – 15:30 | Colegiul Național de Muzică „George Enescu”
Conducting and orchestra masterclass with maestro Ion Marin
Internationally recognised for the technical rigour and artistic sensitivity of his performances, Ion Marin shares the experience he has gained on the world’s major stages in a format designed for young conductors, professional musicians and advanced students.
Register using the ONLINE FORM

7 October | 14:00 – 17:00 | Senatul României
„Argumente pe două voci” – a debate held under the auspices of ARDOR, designed to encourage critical thinking and free expression among pupils at Bucharest schools and secondary schools, both those involved in choral activities and those who do not belong to choirs, on the educational and social impact of choral singing.

Forumul Cantus Mundi is Romania’s largest event dedicated to choral music and cultural education. Organised by the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” and Programul Național Cantus Mundi since 2018, the forum brings together cultural and educational professionals, creating a space for dialogue and training to integrate music and the arts into children’s lives.

Forumul Cantus Mundi 2025 is part of the anniversary programme „Marin Constantin 100”. In 2025, the Madrigal Choir celebrates 100 years since the birth of its founder, Marin Constantin (1925 – 2011), with an extensive series of cultural projects and events throughout the year.

Forumul Cantus Mundi 2025 takes place under the High Patronage of UNESCO. The authors are responsible for the selection and presentation of the views contained in this press release and for the opinions expressed in it, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit UNESCO.

Partners: Senatul României, Comisia Națională a României pentru UNESCO, TVR, TVR Cultural, AQUA Carpatica, Domeniile Sâmburești, Circul Metropolitan București, Opera Comică pentru Copii, Uniunea Compozitorilor și Muzicologilor din România, Uniunea Muzicienilor și Interpreților din România, Casa Corpului Didactic, Universitatea Națională de Știință și Tehnologie Politehnica București, Colegiul Național de Muzică „George Enescu”, ARCUB, Asociația Română de Muzicoterapie,Vox Humana,Fundația CODA Farmecul Tăcerii, ARDOR – Asociația Română de Dezbateri, Oratorie și Retorică

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