Valentina Naforniţa
Valentina Naforniţa
Valentina Naforniță visits UNHCR’s Community Support Centre in Căușeni
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About Valentina
Moldavian-born Valentina Naforniţa is considered one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation. Interested in music from a young age, she began studying singing, violin and dancing as a child. She went on to graduate from the Ștefan Neaga Music College in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, in 2006, followed by a degree in Opera from the National University of Music in Bucharest, Romania.
In 2011, she won both the Singer of the World and the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Award at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition which marked a turning point in her career. Shortly after, Naforniţa became a member of the Vienna State Opera ensemble.
Valentina’s impact transcends the boundaries of the theatres. She stands as a beacon of inspiration, actively contributing to various social and humanitarian initiatives in her home country, leveraging her voice and platform to mobiles efforts to support people in need. Valentina's dedication is particularly noteworthy in her advocacy against bullying and hate speech in schools. Valentina believes that by actively confronting bullying behavior and promoting kindness and inclusivity to refugee children, we instill values that contribute to a more compassionate and understanding society.
Valentina Naforniță visits the UNHCR-supported 151 Community Support Centre in Chișinău.
Valentina Naforniță visits the UNHCR-supported 151 Community Support Centre in Chișinău.
Valentina Naforniță visits the UNHCR-supported 151 Community Support Centre in Chișinău.
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Valentina's involvement with UNHCR
In 2023, Valentina openly engaged in supporting UNHCR initiatives in the Republic of Moldova. She stood with the refugees from Ukraine, as did her countrymen and women, and worked to highlight the plight of refugees and the need for more support for local communities that host refugees.
Valentina shares her passion for music with those who find refuge in art and culture. She visited some of the community centers supported by UNHCR where she sang with a local choir of refugees and local Moldovans and performed songs in Romanian and Ukrainian symbolizing the shared history and culture between Moldova and Ukraine. Moreover, Valentina engaged in unstructured art classes with the young art enthusiasts who participated in the activities held at the community centres.
Valentina Naforniță performs alongside the Moldovan National Youth Orchestra for World Refugee Day in Chișinău
Valentina Naforniță performs alongside the Moldovan National Youth Orchestra for World Refugee Day in Chișinău
Valentina Naforniță visits the UNHCR-supported 151 Community Support Centre in Chișinău.
Valentina Naforniță visits UNHCR’s Community Support Centre in Căușeni
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Shortly after her feature performance in the World Refugee Day 2023 in Chișinău with the Moldovan National Youth Orchestra, Valentina participated in the “Art as a path to resilience” cultural event jointly organized by UNHCR and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova. She called for increased cultural inclusion for those who are forced to flee their homes because of war and persecution.
Valentina said: “As we continue to navigate these challenging times, let us draw strength from the example set by my people, by Moldova, and others that have stepped up in the face of adversity. Let us remember that every act of kindness, and every voice raised in solidarity contributes to a more compassionate world”.