Approximately 150 guests attended the presentation of the “Constantin Brâncoveanu” Awards held in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The gala, organised by the Alexandrion Foundation with the support of the Romanian Embassy in London, at the headquarters of the Romanian Cultural Institute in the British capital, was dedicated to the successes of Romanians settled in the United Kingdom.
Five of the Romanians who represent our country with pride abroad were rewarded for their achievements and for the work each of them has done in their fields of activity.
A special award of the Foundation was presented to Vladimir Jurowski for his services to Romanian culture. Since 2017, Vladimir Jurowski has been the artistic director of the George Enescu Festival, one of the largest classical music events in Europe.
“Four years ago we established the ‘Constantin Brâncoveanu’ Awards – in honour of Romanian culture, awards meant to reward the great cultural and scientific achievements of the elites of this country in Eastern Europe. The Brâncoveanu Awards enjoy so much attention in our country that some have compared them to renowned international awards. (…) But Romanians are not only in their own country. They form important communities in many European countries and even overseas, in the USA and Canada. The academicians and professors on the jury of the ‘Constantin Brâncoveanu’ Awards proposed that we extend the scope of our awards to high-achieving Romanians abroad, integrated into their respective societies and cultures. Some of them are even leading figures and respected personalities in the countries where they live. This led us to step outside Romania, to honour our victorious and accomplished compatriots across the wider world. Today we have stopped at Romanian citizens in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. To them we bring our token of esteem. At the same time, we want the ‘Constantin Brâncoveanu’ awards also to honour the European spirit, open to Romania, of some British citizens who are close to our country and appreciated in Romania.” , said Nawaf Salameh, President of the Alexandrion Foundation.
The jury president for these awards was Academician Dan Berindei, and the vice-president Prof. Dr. Andrei Marga. The other members of the jury were: Prof. Dr. Grigore Constantinescu, Ștefan Râmniceanu – visual artist, laureate of the Romanian Academy Award and of the Brâncoveanu Awards, and Dumitru Constantin – jury secretary. In accordance with the Regulations of the “Constantin Brâncoveanu” Awards Gala, each laureate received a special distinction and a bronze work by the renowned sculptor Ion Bolborea.
The laureates of the “Constantin Brâncoveanu” Awards Gala held in London, 2017, are:
Careers Award – Nelly Miricioiu
The Jury’s description: A genuine world superstar of bel canto, a soprano with an impressive repertoire, who has sung in the best-known operas in the world, collaborating with great conductors, prestigious stage directors and brilliant soloists of the lyric stage, and currently one of the most important leaders of the Romanian community in the United Kingdom.
Science Award – Iulia Motoc
The Jury’s description: A PhD student at the University of Kent, Iulia Motoc was named World Engineering Ambassador for the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II. She programmes humanoid robots and promotes engineering in British schools.
Music Award – Remus Azoiței
The Jury’s description: A violinist, “an incurable virtuoso with fabulous soul and technique” (the British magazine “The Strad”), the youngest violin professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He created the Enescu Society in the British capital in order to pay homage to “the most valuable Romanian cultural product”.
Business Award – Nichi Boca
The Jury’s description: Founder and one of the managers of the company Fresh Organic Product, Nichi Boca is one of the truly successful Romanian entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom who has done the most to help the Romanian community there, the owner of several companies and distributor of the Aqua Carpatica brand in the United Kingdom, with whose support an Orthodox monastery will be built in the United Kingdom.
Religion Award – Father Constantin Popescu
The Jury’s description: Parish priest of the Romanian Church dedicated to Saint George in London, Father Constantin Popescu is an exceptional exponent of the Orthodox faith, a confessor of great nobility and a tireless promoter of Romanian customs within the diaspora, a solid bond between parishioners and the Church and Romanian traditions.
The London gala comes as a natural continuation of the four editions of the “Constantin Brâncoveanu” Awards already held in Bucharest. The Alexandrion Foundation intends to organise similar events in New York and Berlin.
