VOCAL ART Chamber Choir™ – Community bonding

 By this note I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to “Sfanta Treime” for graciously hosting the autumnal new wine celebration, where the members of VOCAL ART Chamber Choir™ reserved a table and participated as regular guests! Being surrounded by people who care, contribute and show up remind us that the community bonding is the foundation of everything we hope to build. Also, the delicious culinary delights served (featuring the amazing Romanian cuisine), the conversations of the evening, the laugher and the profound sense of belonging were truly uplifting!

     Thank you, Father Nicolae Lăpuşte & family, for creating a space where everyone felt welcome and valued! Thank you to all the volunteers who stepped forward and helped transforming an idea into a great experience! From the warm welcome offered to each arriving guest of the evening, to the careful coordination of the flow (of all the subsequent activities), every effort contributed to the success of a beautiful evening of joy and togetherness.

     Additionally, at this event, we all were very pleased to have with us the Romanian diplomats from the Consulate General of Romania in Vancouver (Consul General – Hon. Gabriel Rotaru, together with his lovely wife, Deputy Consul General – Hon. Ştefana Rotaru) who always support & encourage the socio-cultural activities delivered by the Romanian institutions, associations, organizations & societies located throughout the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan area and beyond!

     Last, but certainly not least, I am glad to acknowledge and salute the attendance at this function of Rompost TV, who never fails to be present at all the activities organized across our province and not only!

     I left the event carried by a soul-settling peace, while feeling genuinely inspired and grateful to be part of such a nice Romanian community!

Sincerely,

Alice

● For your convenience, here is the related social media acknowledgement...enjoy the reading! 

Alice’s Book Club – AUTUMN session of 2026

     As the ongoing autumn is graciously unfolding in our part of the world, on Thursday (October 15, 2026) I hosted the fourth edition of our seasonal book club series, event which marks the last session of this kind for the current year! The book we all choose to discuss (as a group), was profoundly educational, informative and more than anything else truly eye opening.

     Unlike the dates before, this time, I won’t go into the details examined, as a curtesy and a sign of appreciation for the friends who made the effort (to take the actual time, from their busy lives) to come and join the conversation.

     In the future, for this type of gathering, those who would like to learn more about our in-depth book related talks are more than welcome to contact me directly if they wish to join us.

     Also, since this was the last book club session of the year, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those loyal, dear friends who each time (not just occasionally) make themselves available to honor my invitations, and who genuinely and continuously are supporting the activities of ALICE & Friends Circle™.

Until our paths will meet again on the same wavelength, from me, only the best!

Alice

“In an age defined by pervasive digital technologies, artificial intelligence and a ceaseless flow of information, the act of reading books might appear, to some, an act of an early era. Yet, in 2026, reading books remains an indispensable tool for cognitive, emotional and social enrichment, providing benefits that extend far beyond the superficial consumption of information.”

About the rehearsals of VOCAL ART Chamber Choir™

● Here is the related social media coverage.

Alice’s Book Club – SUMMER session of 2026

With much joy I’m sharing here that on Thursday (September 17’26) I was glad to prepare the summer edition of my Book Club series, this time discussing a well-known movie, mostly from a literary perspective. Also, since year 2026 was officially declared in Romania as being “Constantin Brâncuși Year” (Ro…2026: “Anul Constantin Brâncuși”), I’ve expanded the debate of the evening, by including several movies, featuring Brâncuși’s life, opera and legacy.

While at this point, I would like to emphasize that 2026 marks the 150^th anniversary of the birth of this great Romanian sculptor (Constantin Brâncuși) who brought the name of his native country to the heights of international recognition.
For your reference, I’m refreshing that Constantin Brâncuși (1876 – 1957) was a Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer who made his career in France; he was considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20^th century and a pioneer of modernism…he is called by many scholars and not only, “the patriarch of modern sculpture”.

Many Romanians from abroad (including myself and the members of our literary & socio-cultural community) are saluting this cultural initiative generated by Romania (2026 – “Constantin Brâncuși Year”) and included it into some of our cultural activities of our Circle. 

I’m truly grateful to say that our Circle takes great pride in celebrating inspiring and authentic cultural figures from our old homeland.

As a result, I would like to emphasise that this is the 3^rd occasion at our Circle (in 2026) when we are featuring Constantin Brâncuși, and here are the other
2 previous instances: 1) January 2026: Romania’s Culture Day & 2) Feb.19’26: “Brâncuși National Day” during "2026 - Brâncuși Year”.

Brâncuși’s life inspired cinema as well. Director Mick Davis made the biographical film, called “The Sculptor”, while British director, Peter Greenway created “Walking to Paris” (focusing on Brâncuși’s daring journey in 1903).

For your convenience, I’m including here several reference materials about Constantin Brâncuși:
– short movie: “Constantin Brâncuși…Master of the Modern Sculpture”
– short movie: “On the Wings of Brâncuși” (trailer)
– short movie: “Concert pentru Domnișoara Pogány, clarinet și Brâncuși |Documentary Film”

Today, Brâncuși’s works sell around the world for tens of millions of dollars, but beyond the monetary value, Brâncuși left behind something much deeper: the conviction that art should not copy the world, but rather reveals its essence….from the simplicity of the wood, the rounded form of an ovoid and the verticality of a column, the famous Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși evoked the infinite like nobody else!

So, wrapping up my briefing here, I truly believe that cinema remains a special place where human emotions play an important role, because ‘the heart of a film’ beats in the fragile moment when a story finds its viewer.

Once again, my honest appreciation to all my friends who were able to join this event, while I’m wishing them all a beautiful rest of the season!

Until we meet again, my warmest regards to all!

Alice

“Movies screens flicker with different fragments of longing (a face half-lit, a whispered promise, a city dissolving into rain, etc.) and audiences gather to witness the quiet alchemy that turns imagination into shared experience.”

Traditional Romanian embroidery class (part 3 of 3)

~ A multifaceted event: an educational activity of our Circle, with an ART emphasis ~

ART oriented activity – MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members); part 3 of 3

Dear friends of our Circle,

I’m glad to share with you that on Thursday (August 27’26) I managed to organize the third part (which is also the last) of our hands-on workshop, dedicated to the ancient art of the traditional Romanian embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse), craft being taught by artisan Lucreția Cioată. 

As I’ve mentioned before in several different circumstances, for me it was truly enjoyable and rewarding in many ways to witness the genuine enthusiasm, the engagement and the many thoughtful questions posed by participants along the way (during the 3 sessions of our seminar)! 
The experience in itself allowed us to explore the rich history, the ancient artistry and the cultural significance of the Romanian embroidery, while learning lots of techniques that our ancestors used for centuries, before us. In many ways it felt like travelling back in time! Definitively, something rare, authentic and precious!  

From me, once again, many thanks to all for answering my call and especially to Ms. Lucreția for sharing with all of us her extensive background in this field!
Without any doubt, the Romanian embroidery (perceived as “manual art”) remains a living testament to cultural resilience, illustrating how art, tradition and symbolism could harmoniously intertwine in order to preserve and celebrate the essence of our people and their stories across generations.

Wrapping up my briefing on this, I would like to say that this very specific Romanian traditional embroidery shouldn’t be necessarily perceived as something nostalgic, but rather as an informed action in response to the homogenizing pressure of consumerism because it cultivates literacy, sustainability and human creativity in an era of mechanized and impersonal production.

In a society driven by speed, instant gratification and visual overstimulation, the traditional Romanian embroidery represents slowness, intention and presence.

This is was a MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members).

NOTES:

● For your convenience, here is the related social media posting.

● To facilitate additional reference, here are the previous reviews of our series – part 1 of 3 & part 2 of 3. 

Philosophers’ Café with ALICE & Friends: Summer 2026

 The complete briefing will be available soon. Thank you!

Traditional Romanian embroidery class (part 2 of 3)

~ A multifaceted event: an educational activity of our Circle, with an ART emphasis ~

ART oriented activity – MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members); part  2 of 3

Dear friends of our Circle,

With much delight I’m sharing that on Thursday (August 20’26) I organized the second part of our hands-on workshop, dedicated to the ancient art of the traditional Romanian embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse), craft being taught by artisan Lucreția Cioată. 
This time we all were pleased to be invited at Ms. Cioată’s private residence, where surrounded by nature and warm Romanian hospitality we could continue with much passion our work. Discussing patterns, analysing traditional symbols, exploring complex ancient motifs, comparing stiches techniques and thread types (from a practical perspective), brought even more breath and depth to our seminar.

While at this point, I would like to emphasize that this very specific Romanian embroidery (perceived as “manual art”) it is far more than a simple decorative art; it is a vivid testament of our homeland history, cultural identity and social narrative because it is deeply rooted in our folklore and rural traditions. The beauty of this old craft is that each stitch, each motif and each color choice convey a symbolic meaning by narrating special stories of life, nature and spirituality.

Regarding our time together during this session: it goes without saying that we all truly cherished the pleasing ambiance, being captivated by special moments of creativity and artistry in a such cozy and inspiring setting.
With much joy, both Ms. Lucreția and I will be looking forward to the next part of this series (which is also the last session)!

Until next time, dear ones, from me, only the best

Alice

In essence, this type of Romanian traditional embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse) reminds society that value is not solely measured by efficiency or mass appeal, but also by skill and intentionality; threads of memory woven across generations, contained within each simple stitch!

This is was a MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members).

NOTES:

● For your convenience, here is the related social media posting.

● To facilitate additional reference, here is the previous review – part 1 of 3 of our series. 

Traditional Romanian embroidery class (part 1 of 3)

~ A multifaceted event: an educational activity of our Circle, with an ART emphasis ~

ART oriented activity – MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members); part 1 of 3

Dear friends of our Circle,

Following up on the artisanal Romanian mini-workshop I initiated during “Ziua Iei 2026” celebration (aka: “The Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse 2026”) and responding to the interest expressed directly to me by several friends of our socio-cultural community, I am delighted to share that on Thursday (August 13’26), on a very beautiful and peaceful summer day around here, I organized for the friends of our Circle the first part (part 1 of 3) of a hands-on workshop, dedicated to the ancient art of the traditional Romanian embroidery (especially customized for the traditional Romanian blouse), craft being taught by artisan Lucreția Cioată. 
This class was offered exclusively to the friends of our literary and socio-cultural Circle (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members), and each participant was offered a starter kit, as a base to commence the learning process.

This traditional Romanian embroidery of a recognizable value, perceived as a distinct “manual art”, it is a centuries-old hand-made artistry, 
gracefully encompassing our ancient cultural heritage and a skillful handcraft. Truly beautiful! 

Needless to say that we all enjoyed wonderful moments of art and creativity in a warm atmosphere, where every thread came to life, telling us timeless stories. 
Both, Ms. Lucreția and I had a blast weaving beautiful memories together with our friends, and with much anticipation we are looking forward to the next session (part 2 of 3) of this workshop, which belongs to the educational serries of events of our Circle. 

Until then, from me, only the best!

Alice

Hand-sewing traditional Romanian embroideries promote cultural literacy, informed sustainable practices, intergenerational memory and reflective engagement – all embedded in a simple and humble stitch!

This is was a MEMBERS ONLY EVENT (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members).

● NOTE: For your convenience, here is the related social media posting.

● A nice acknowledgement...

July 24, 2026: The inauguration of VOCAL ART Chamber Choir™

A special evening to remember, as we are celebrating our beautiful teamwork and collective artistry.  

● For your convenience here is the Press Release  for the launching of  VOCAL ART – The Chamber Choir of ALICE & Friends Circle™

● For your convenience here is the Press Release  for this event – the annual summer picnic of ALICE & Friends Circle™

● Socializing: Circle's summer picnic for 2026 & the Premiere of our Chamber Choir

Socializing: Picnic 2026 & Our Chamber Choir Launch

With much delight I’m sharing here that on Friday (July 24’26) I organized the annual summer picnic of my Circle, event which brought together a nice group of dear friends (Circle’s friends = Circle’s members) for an engaging evening of music, dance, shared memories, enjoyment and community spirit.

The highlight of this social event was the launching of VOCAL ART – The Chamber Choir of ALICE & Friends Circle™.

On this occasion, it was profoundly significant for each of us to have our chamber choir’s inaugural performance taking place at an event I organized for my Circle.

Bringing together emerging talents, amateur artists and music professionals, our choir aims to present inspirational choral music across the realm, to create a cultural experience that resonates with audiences of all ages, and to explore a wide repertoire, ranging from timeless classical masterpieces, Byzantine and Baroque florilegia to contemporary choral works.

Our first mini-concert was featuring pieces by Romanian composers. In the foreseeable future, we will deliver both public concerts and bespoke performances to special events, while featuring the beauty and the extensive versatility of choral music. Beyond artistic performance, our choir’s launch signals a clear emphasis on musical art and cultural dialogue. 

Over the last 8 years of existence of our socio-cultural Circle, amongst other events of our Circle, the annual summer picnic of ALICE & Friends Circle™ has become a truly cherished tradition, each time providing excellent opportunities to strengthen community ties, while enjoying the fantastic scenic outdoors of our beautiful Vancouver – this time featuring, the one and the only, Granville Island.

Additionally, invited by Alice to offer a dancing demonstration as part of the event, our old friend Sandu Oprea presented several (dancing) styles for everybody to join. Needless to say how much fun the engaging experience it was for all guests! 

This complimentary event was open to the public, expressing interest proactively – enthusiasts were asked to RSVP via email before the specified due date.

The purpose of this gathering was to create an inclusivist ambiance, meant to strengthen culture, diversity and shared experiences.

Overall, this summer picnic of our Circle was a successful combination of cultural appreciation, leisure and fine gastronomy, leaving all participants with lasting memories of a nice sunny day well spent!

Until our paths will meet again on the same wavelength, from me only the best!

Alice

● For your convenience here is the Press Release  for the launching of  VOCAL ART – The Chamber Choir of ALICE & Friends Circle™

● For your convenience here is the Press Release  for this event – the annual summer picnic of ALICE & Friends Circle™