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Nadejda NazimovaPeople's Artist of Moldova.
Date of Birth: 01.09.1956
Country:  Moldova |
Content:
- Biography of Nadezhda Chepraga
- Rise to Fame
- Continued Success and International Recognition
- Later Career and Personal Life
Biography of Nadezhda Chepraga
Early Life and CareerNadezhda Chepraga, a People's Artist of Moldova, was born in the north of the Republic of Moldova in the village of Raspopeny. Her parents, Alexey Pavlovich Chepraga and Zinaida Dionisovna Chepraga, worked in a collective farm. Nadezhda grew up in a musically inclined family, with her father being an excellent violinist and her mother possessing a remarkable soprano voice. Nadezhda, along with her siblings, loved singing and dancing, often performing together as a family ensemble. It was Nadezhda who showed great talent and was noticed at a song festival when she was in the fourth grade. She became a soloist in a local amateur ensemble called "Dumbrava" named after the river that flowed through their village.
In the sixth grade, Nadezhda appeared in a short film called "Grape Harvesting" by the Telefilm Kishinev studio, where she played the role of a soloist in an ensemble. Despite her parents' wish for her to study at the Pedagogical Institute to become a French language teacher, Nadezhda was drawn to the life of a performer. Her fellow villagers adored her and were willing to work in the fields on her behalf just to have her perform for them.
Rise to Fame
In the ninth grade, Nadezhda made her debut on a popular children's show called "Budilnik" with her own song called "Veselaya svadba" (Happy Wedding). Her performance caught the attention of professionals, and she soon participated in the Central Television show "Ekran sobiraet druzey" (Screen Gathers Friends). The show's editor-in-chief, Kira Anenkova, and the Central Television announcer, Svetlana Morgunova, became like godmothers to Nadezhda. As a laureate of the show, Nadezhda was invited to join the Central Television and All-Union Radio orchestra conducted by Yu.V. Silantyev. Together, they recorded her first song "Veselaya svadba" for the May Day show "Goluboy ogonek" (Blue Light).
In 1972, People's Artist of the USSR I.M. Tumanov invited Nadezhda to participate in a festival of folk songs in France, where she received a Gold Medal. This marked the beginning of her professional career. She debuted at the Olympia Hall in Paris with the song "Paren' iz Parizha" (A Guy from Paris). In 1973, at the age of 17, Nadezhda performed at the 10th World Festival of Youth and Students in Berlin, where she once again achieved success and received the title of laureate and a Gold Medal for her performance of the song "Doina" in the folk music competition. That same year, her first EP "Struny gitary" (Guitar Strings) was released, featuring the song "Vesna - rovesnitsa lyubvi" (Spring is the Same Age as Love) by V. Dogi and V. Lazarev.
Nadezhda Chepraga's name became popular in Moldova. She became a soloist of the Estrada-Symphonic Orchestra of the Republican State Television and Radio, where she worked for ten years. Her work on television and radio during those years taught her patience, perseverance, and the ability to collaborate with composers. Concurrently, Nadezhda studied at the Stefan Nagi Music School, majoring in vocal and choir conducting from 1973 to 1977. From 1977 to 1982, she studied at the Gavriil Musicescu Conservatory in Kishinev, specializing in vocal and choral conducting. During her studies, Nadezhda found a mentor and mother figure in People's Artist of the USSR Tamara Cheban.
Continued Success and International Recognition
Nadezhda Chepraga participated in numerous competitions, festivals, and television shows. She became a laureate of the "Bashni Vilnyusa-74" festival in Lithuania, received a diploma at the "With a Song for Life" competition in 1976 for her artistic and telegenic qualities, won the "Star of Bulgaria" television festival, and became the winner of the "Intertalent" festival in Czechoslovakia in 1977. She also participated in the youth and student festivals in Berlin, Havana, Pyongyang, and Moscow, where she performed the song "Voz'memsya za ruki, druzya" (Let's Hold Hands, Friends) together with American singer Dean Reed.
In 1980, Nadezhda Chepraga took part in the anniversary festival of Intervision in Sopot, Poland. Local press hailed her as a unique and original performer, skillfully synthesizing folk motifs with contemporary rhythms. She became known as the embodiment of Moldova, especially when she performed in a white dress adorned with traditional patterns. American singer Jimmy Lauton shared his impressions, stating, "Listening to her, you feel something real and serious. I have the opportunity for the first time, and I'm very glad about it." That same year, she participated in the cultural program of the Moscow Olympics. In 1986, she performed at the closing gala concert of the Goodwill Games and greeted the organizer, Ted Turner, on behalf of the Soviet side.
Nadezhda Chepraga became a regular participant in high-level festive concerts, performed at meetings with the President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, and was an honorary guest at the "Melodies of the Heart" folklore festival in San Francisco in 1993. She also participated in the "Wreath of Songs" competition in Los Angeles in 1994 and the "Voice of Singapore" festival in 1994, where she won a silver medal for her performance of the song "Zhavoronok" (Lark).
Later Career and Personal Life
Nadezhda Chepraga has appeared in numerous television productions. She has been featured in seven films on Central Television and eleven films on Moldovan television. She has recorded over 200 songs by domestic and foreign composers for the Central Television, All-Union Radio, and Moldovan television archives. Some of her most popular songs include "Mne prisnulsya shum dozhdya" (I Dreamt of the Sound of Rain), "Vodovory" (Whirlpools), "Perekati-pole" (Rolling Field), and "Raba lyubvi" (Slave of Love).
Nadezhda Chepraga has released three EPs, six full-length albums, and four solo CDs. In 1980, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Moldova, and in 1988, she became a People's Artist of the Moldovan Republic. She is a member of the International Union of Performing Artists, the Moscow Business Women's Club "Vera," and the Rotary Club. Nadezhda is fluent in Russian, Romanian, French, English, and Italian.
In her free time, Nadezhda enjoys sewing and has a unique collection of over 300 pairs of shoes that she has worn during her performances. She also loves reading good books, watching movies, and listening to music. Nadezhda Chepraga is an active athlete, engaging in running, gymnastics, and swimming. She shares her home with two cats and a Cocker Spaniel named Annie.
