42,500 Romanians Sang at Cantus Mundi Events for Earth Hour

A total of 42,500 Romanians participated in the events organized by the Cantus Mundi National Program to celebrate Earth Hour on March 22, 2025.

Among them, 19,500 children and young people from Cantus Mundi choirs and ensembles, along with over 23,000 audience members, joined their voices in 152 locations across Romania and the Republic of Moldova, as part of the world’s largest voluntary movement dedicated to environmental protection—Earth Hour.

Children and youth from 464 Cantus Mundi choirs and instrumental ensembles sang alongside their families, friends, conductors, and teachers for the health of the planet. Performances took place in public spaces, parks, squares, and in front of institutions in all Romanian counties and in Moldova.

“Beyond the numbers, this year we are thrilled to experience two major milestones with the public. For the first time, choirs from every county in Romania participated in Earth Hour with Cantus Mundi. Additionally, our repertoire has been made accessible to children and people with hearing impairments. We are delighted that, year after year, the Cantus Mundi National Program brings music into the lives of more and more children and young people from increasingly diverse communities, overcoming barriers that sometimes seem insurmountable. I wholeheartedly congratulate all the participants of this edition and everyone who supports children in singing in choirs,” said Leila Popovici, director of the Cantus Mundi National Program.

At the ninth edition of Earth Hour with Cantus Mundi, choir singers, instrumentalists, conductors, and program coordinators were celebrated in 130 localities across Romania and Moldova. Cantus Mundi ensembles from all regions of Romania, including all 41 counties and Bucharest, participated, as well as the Fălești ensemble in Moldova.

Electric lights and non-essential devices were turned off for one hour, while nearly 20,000 children from the program performed selections from the Cantus Mundi Earth Hour Songbook, a collection of 33 songs curated by professionals from Madrigal Choir and Cantus Mundi. In an absolute first, this year’s event made music accessible to children with hearing impairments, with song lyrics translated into Romanian sign language by the CODA Farmecul Tăcerii Foundation.

Highlights from Across the Country

• Bucharest: Over 750 children and young people from 31 choirs and ensembles performed at the Opera Comică pentru Copii and Casa Eliad – ARCUB.
• Maramureș County had a record-breaking participation of over 3,500 children, with Baia Mare leading with 2,900 singers, holding performances at Piața Cetății, Câmpia Tineretului, and local schools.
• Oradea: 800 children and 1,500 spectators gathered at the Orthodox Cathedral Plaza.
• Galați: 700 children performed in front of the Dunărea de Jos University.
• Brăila: Over 600 children sang on the City Hall Plaza.
• Brănești, Ilfov: Hosted the largest Earth Hour Cantus Mundi event in a Romanian commune, with 450 children performing at Școala Gimnazială nr. 1 and Central Park.

Throughout the country, children were accompanied by conductors, teachers, families, and friends, all singing together under the motto: “Give your energy back to nature!”