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| Interview - Praise |  |
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Rep.: What is background for the groups name? Answer: In 1988 we co-operated with a music group called "Praise", so due to this we "adopted" the name. We decided to call the group this name because our goal was and is to praise our Lord so that all our songs and our lives might become a praise to our God. Rep.: Please, tell about your artistic activities before you came to the group. Tatyana Tofan: No children in my family seriously studied music, and I also didn't really want to study at music school. When I was in 5 grade I often missed music classes, and when my dad learned about this, he let me have it and after that I didn't really want to play hooky any more. I finished the music school, piano department. When the graduation time was near I started feeling interest in my instrument. Gradually music captivated me. Further the story is even more interesting: I was invited to join a music group called "New Chants" (director - Yuriy Sysoyev, Melitopol city) . During the first rehearsal I had first audition, they asked me to play a tune on the piano. I remember myself playing with trembling hands and feet, I went hot and cold. Nevertheless I passed the exam and I played in that group for 6 years. This is how my artistic career began. We travelled a lot to different cities, performed at the festivals, and I'm so thankful to the Lord for my music life. Daniel Petresku: I started singing back in the kindergarten. When I reached the age of 8 I was attracted by the music school and got enrolled there. During the seven years I spent there I learned how to play violin, piano and how to sing correctly. Because my parents were Christians I came to love the Lord since childhood. And I expressed my love to Him through singing. When I was singing in the youth choir, one lady noticed my voice and invited me to join a singing group, consisting of the best voices of the choir. I started working hard and travelled a lot, began studying how to play guitar. During the studies I realized that music became my priority and played an important role in my life. Vasiliy Mintenko: I loved music since childhood. My parents say that when I was 4, I would take a small stool and pretend I play accordion. This is how my artistic life began. Later parents boght me an accordion, and when I got older I started annoying my parents with off-key playing, so they sent me to music school, hoping that I'll become a trumpeter like my father. But the doctors prohibited me playing wind instruments, I didn't finish the school and was left without the diploma. I felt aggrieved but didn't quit music and started learning how to play guitar on my own, played piano a bit, I was a soloist in the school choir. When I was still studying at music school, my parents got saved and I attended church services together with them. Socializing with the Christian youth I understood what is the meaning of my life and I handed it over to Jesus. This was the most important and relevant step I made in my life. Then I started playing Christian music. In 1984 I was invited to join a Christian band, where I worked for 2 years. Then I joined a string-symphony orchestra. There I started learning how to play bass-guitar. This way I tried a bit of everything. It was a great team and we worked in God's field, I'm so thankful to God for such an opportunity. Victor Moraru: From infancy my parents tried to foster in me love for God. Since childhood I love Christian music and singing. I still remember the songs I sang in childhood. My grandfather was a great lover of music, he played different instruments and wanted his grandchildren to inherit that love. As a result I studied the violin for two years at the music school, but I didn't have any more patience to proceed. Surely now I'm sorry for not having music education. I would like not only to mix the sound of music instruments, but also to play them. Aleksander Moraru: Since my infancy I evinced faculty for singing. My parents didn't know how to tame my "lyricism" until I reached the age of 1. I'm very advantaged to be born in the family of believing parents, who brought us up in a Christian way. Since childhood I've been listening to the Christian music both at church and from the tapes. We had a few orchestras in our church of Evangelical Christian-Baptists that played contemporary Christian music. My music outlook was affected by those groups. Back in my preschool age I tried to form a "band" from the neighbor's children, using all the things resembling music instruments. I loved guitar, saxophone and drums. My grandfather was the first music teacher for me. In age of 8 I was sent to music school to study the piano. I was not very keen on that instrument. Even during the interview, when they asked me what instrument would I like to play, I answered - saxophone. Nevertheless the parents had their own way. After 6 painful years of playing piano I started learning how to play clarinet. I was taking guitar lessons. Having finished the clarnet studies I quit my music education, because at that time the door was closed for non-members of Communist Youth Organization to enter music college. Back when I was 12 (in 1978) with my 1 - 2 years older friends we created our first music group. I invited our older friend to teach us. Before going into the army I played in a few Christian orchestras, which were popular among the Christians. In 1986 I was invited to play in string symphony orchestra and in the orchestra I played before the military service. Rep.: Please share how did you join the group "Praise". Tatyana Tofan: My work at the group "Praise" started from the acquaintance with my future husband Sergey, who was one of the group's founders. In August 1987 we got married and he took me to his home town. The rehearsals started; I really liked all the musicians, you could sense the homely atmosphere. They welcomed me in the group. Since that time I'm devoted to our group and it became my family. Due to the birth of daughter first and later the son I had to leave the group for a while. After the children grew a bit I returned to my friends, so we've been working for a few years together. Daniel Petresku: In September 1998 I was invited to join the group "Praise" so that I could serve the Lord with the talent He gave me. "Sing to the Lord a new song". Ps.149:1. I sing and praise Him with a great joy! Vasily Mintenko: In 1989 we moved to Moldova, where I lived for 3 years. I worked there in the group "Revivalist". Then we returned to Chernivtsi and I was proposed to continue serving the Lord in the group "Praise". I was glad because all the musicians were my old friends. Aleksander Moraru: In 1989 when the orchestra in which I played began to split, I asked my childhood friend, Oleg Yanishin, to accept me into his group (at that time Oleg was a director of the group "Praise"). Oleg consented. This is how I joined the group in which I have been serving God for 10 years. I'm not a professional musician, music is my hobby (I'm working in TV). Though free time is on the decrease in this economy situation, the Lord allows to labor for Him. Currently I'm an acting director of the group, handling technical issues, playing saxophone, guitar and singing. Victor Moraru: I've worked for tree years as soundman in the group "Praise". I thank God for entrusting me with this minstry. I feel big responsibility on me for this work, and therefore during the concerts, when I'm at the control panel, I ask God to help me in this work. God is blessing us and we can feel His blessings. Rep.: How important is the music for you? Tatyana Tofan: I can't imagine living without it, it gets me excited, cleanses my soul, gives me strenth to go on. I can see the hand of my Creator whom I love with all of my heart. Victor Moraru: All our family loves to praise our Savior. Singing is a very special part of worship. Children like when parents have some free time. They know by heart many songs of our group, because I often take them along for rehearsals and concerts. Rep.: How do your songs sprout up? Daniel Petresku: Having opened my mind for understanding His will, the Lord has filled my heart with the desire to write a song, in wich I could express my inner feelings and experience at the moment. After the song was written and performed in a narrow circle of friends I was even more convinced that the Lord not only gives the talent, but also gives inspiration to write songs for praising Him. Since that moment I started developing and progressing artistically. I would express the experiences of my soul through the music in major and minor keys. Victor Moraru: I write lyrics and music. My intention for writing the songs is to get the people to muse on life and think about God. Rep.: What are your plans for future? Tatyana Tofan: Lord willing, I'd like to continue working in His field in such crackajack team. Rep.: Please share in detail about yourself, your families, your hobbies. Tatiana Tofan: I was born in Melitopol in a Christian family. I have never regreted about it. I have three elder brothers and a sister. I am the youngest one of my parents. We have wonderful children: Kristina is 8 and Marik - 6, I make my best to grow them up with love to music. I like to gaze at the sky wondering about eternity. I enjoy receiving gests. At a free time we together with musicians play tennis and volleyball. I even got interested in soccer due to my children. Vasiliy Mintenko: I was born in Chernovtsy on 8th of April 1968. In 1988 I met a wonderful girl Valentina. Some months later I made her a proposal and she agreed to become my wife. Do you know what it means to be a musician's wife? You have to wait from rehearsals, from tours sometimes living apart for a long time. I am grateful to God for the wife who understands and supports me. We have two children. They also love music very much. Tania is 10, she takes the piano classes. Vadim is 8, he likes singing. We are short of time, but when it appeares we prefer to spend it together with our friends. It's good to serve God and have rest together. While we are playing tennis or soccer our children may talk with each other. If you wish to know more about us it will be better to listen to our songs praising God. Viktor Moraru: I was born in Chernovtsy on 7th of October 1969, in a Christian family. God gave me a wonderful family. My wife's name is Svetlana and children's names are Anastasiya, Roman and Valentin. Aleksander Moraru; I was born in November 1966. Since school I've been interested in radio-electronics and after it I entered trade school. In October 1984 I was born again. During one of the services in our church God touched my heart and I realized that though I was born in a Christian family I was still a sinner???! In repentance I gave my life in the hands of the Heavenly Father. In fall of 1987 I got married. God gifted me with a wonderful wife Vera who shares my interest for the musical service encouraging me in difficult situations. We have two children: a daughter Marina and a son Vladik. Rep.: What would you like to tell people who would read info about your group? Aleksander Moraru: Dear friend, thank you for spending time and money to learn more about me, my group and our activity. If you are far from God, if you do not receive Him as your personal Savior, approach Him and open your heart! Jesus is waiting for you! He'll change your life and you'll never feel sorry about it. May be you are more talanted then I am. So you can serve Jesus Christ with your talant! Viktor MoraruI want to tell how I came to God. The devil sends comforting thoughts to many children from Christian families that in order to get saved it is enough just to go to church, sing in chorus and visit Christian youth meetings. The same happened to me. I grew up like a flower planted in a greenhouse experiencing neither stresses nor troubles. But it did not last that long. Sooner or later I had to make a choise. Once I went with my friends on a tour to another city. There devil showed me all lures of life without God - kingdom of deprivaty, dirty words, alcohol and cigarettes. There I tried strong drinks and smoking for the first time. I saw my friends rolling like pigs in the mud and using four-letter words when talking to their girl-friends. Every day it repeated again and again. Thanks to prayers of my parents God did not abandon me in that nightmare but helped me to see the reality. I was scared having realized my state before God. A little bit later during a service in my church God touched my heart with words from Revelation 3:15: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. He helped me see my terrible lukewarm state before Him. Then I decided to give my heart to Jesus and to devote my life to His service. While I was asking for forgiveness, joy and comfort filled my soul. God forgave me and now I am saved through sufferings of Jesus Christ! I've been following Jesus for eleven years. I want to speak to those who are in this warm state: call unto God, ask for His leadership and you will see wonderful changes in your life! Dear friend, I believe that one day we will meet each other, if not on this earth then in the Heavens.
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