The 26th edition of the National Folk Music Performance Competition „Festivalul Castanilor – In memoriam Gabi Dobre” has ended. The Festival Trophy goes to „SUMMER // NIGHTS”
The „Ion Luca Caragiale” House of Culture of the Municipality of Ploiești and Ploiești City Hall, in collaboration with the „Toma Caragiu” Theatre Ploiești, organised between 10-11 October the 26th edition of the National Folk Music Performance Competition „Festivalul Castanilor – In memoriam Gabi Dobre”.
After two days of emotion, music and recitals, the jury announced the laureates of the 2025 edition during the Laureates’ Gala.
The winners of the 26th edition of the National Folk Music Performance Competition „Festivalul Castanilor – In memoriam Gabi Dobre” are:
1. FESTIVAL TROPHY – „SUMMER // NIGHTS” (Iași)
A duo combining viola, voice and guitar in a contemporary sound with folk roots. A remarkable record: Grand Prize „Poarta Sărutului” 2025, Grand Prize „Chira Chiralina” 2023, multiple distinctions at „Baladele Dunării” (2021–2024), prizes at national and international performance competitions (RNCM, „Lira de Aur”, „George Georgescu” and others). In the competition they performed the songs „Chiatra” and „De privire s-o iei”.
2. Performance Prize – group/band: „ZORI” Group (Brașov & Tg-Neamț)
A young group consolidated around original composition; trophies at Trivale Fest 2024, „Mediaș – Cetate Seculară” 2024, „Victor Socaciu” 2023, the Best Composition Prize at „Chira Chiralina” 2023. Songs in the competition: „Destin” and „Vis”.
3. Performance Prize – soloist: Alma Lorena Andronache (Ploiești)
A guitarist and singer-songwriter for whom folk is the direct language of emotion. Recent trophies: „Mai cu Folk” 2025 Trophy (Vaslui), „Viorel Gârbaciu” Prize – Poarta Sărutului 2025. Songs in the competition: „Bătrân bulevard” and „Mii de cioburi”.
4. Instrumental Mastery Prize: Vlad Pârău (Sibiu)
Poet and singer-songwriter, also trained at the Sibiu Popular School of Arts. Prizes: First Prize – „Adrian Păunescu” Festival 2024 (Craiova), Second Prize – Trivale Fest 2024, Sponsor’s Prize – „Mediaș, Cetate Seculară” 2024. Songs in the competition: „Foc de Folk” and „Simplu folkist”.
5. Creation Prize (music and lyrics): Maria Patricia Bădița (Curtea de Argeș)
Author and performer with a rich record: creation and performance prizes at Festivalul Castanilor (2023, 2024), distinctions at Trivale Fest (2022–2024) and „Ana Lu’ Manole”. Songs in the competition: „Scrisoare către Micul Prinț” and „Femeia cu ochii senini”.
6. Popularity Prize: Denisa Teodora Fodac (Câmpina)
Selected through the audience vote. Distinctions: „Sunetul Muzicii” Trophy (Sibiu, 2025), First Prize – „Suflet de copil” (Câmpina, 2025), „Festivalul Tineretului” Trophy (Câmpina, 2024). Songs in the competition: „Strigăt mut” and „Scurta despărțire”.
7. BES Romania Prize: Bianca Maria Constantinescu (Rovinari)
A young voice with mature expression; Special Prize „Teodora Ionescu – Folk pur și simplu” (Poarta Sărutului 2025), First Prize „Bucuriile Muzicii” (Botoșani 2024), laureate of the Francophone music competition „Chants, sons sur scène”. Songs in the competition: „Dor căzut” and „Brâncuși”.
The Festival’s main sponsor also awarded two further special BES prizes:
Silvia Marina Ceche (Craiova) – an artist with operatic training and authentic folk writing; First Prize – „Poarta Sărutului”. Songs in the competition: „Călător între lumi” and „Amintire de rămas bun”.
Adelina Flavia Iancu (București) – a singer-songwriter with two folk albums, awarded the Special Prize „Gabi Dobre” (Festivalul Castanilor 2024) and the Popularity Prize (Bujorul de Munte 2025). Songs in the competition: „Murmur de toamnă” and „Croitorul de suflete”.
The Festival’s jury was composed of:
Chair: Magda Puskas – folk music singer
Members: George Sărluceanu – artist and music producer; Mihai Stârcea – artist, leader of the Baba Novak band; Martha Maria Mocanu – General Director, BES Romania; Marian Dragomir – Director, „Ion Luca Caragiale” House of Culture Ploiești.
The recitals of the two evenings of the Festivalul Castanilor – In memoriam Gabi Dobre, 26th edition, brought a true celebration of folk and folk-rock music to the stage of the „Toma Caragiu” Theatre in Ploiești. On Friday, 10 October, the audience enjoyed moments full of emotion and energy delivered by the „Chitara Prahovei” Folk Group, a project coordinated by Professor Marius Glonț, followed by recitals by the established artists Magda Puskas, Baba Novak and Mircea Vintilă, who delighted the hall with authentic interpretations and heartfelt musical stories.
On Saturday, 11 October, after the Laureates’ Gala, the atmosphere turned into a real marathon of emotion and joy, with recitals delivered by Luigi Popescu – the Trophy laureate of the previous edition (2024), Claudia Șerdan & Jimi El Laco, TVA – Trupa cu Valoare Adăugată and Țapinarii, each bringing a distinct musical universe to the stage, from the sensitivity of folk poetry to the humour and nonconformism of alternative folk. Two memorable evenings, in which generations met in the name of music and the free spirit of Romanian folk.
The Festival Trophy was crafted by the visual artist Alfred Dumitriu – a symbol of the interweaving of nature, poetry and music.
The official photographs of the edition were taken by Sorin Petculescu.