The Festival took place in Tirana on 7, 8, and 9 November 2007. About 100 singers from four continents competed in different countries during the selection phase. The first phase, which was the applications phase, took place from May to September 2007. The auditions qualified 25 singers to continue their competition in Tirana during the 3 days of the Festival. The first appearance was an audition with piano of 25 singers before the International Jury. In the second and third day of the Festival, the singers performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Academy of Arts directed by the Italian conductor, Leonardo Quadrini. The Festival was broadcast live on the Albanian Public Television through a terrestrial and satellite transmission in Europe and North America.

15 singers competed during the second day, and 10 singers during the final day of the Festival, heading towards the three Festival big Prizes.

The Prize winners of the 8th Festival were:

First Prize “Marie Kraja”	Mr. Dang Jong Il, baritone (South Korea)
Second Prize	Mr. Michael Fischi, tenor (Belgium)
Third Prize	Ms. Iva Mrvosh, mezzo-soprano (Serbia)

Mr. Ylli PANGO
Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports

Mrs. Zana ÇELA

Pali KUKE

Leonardo QUADRINI (Italy)

The International Festival of Operatic Singers “Marie Kraja” organized by the association “Culture-Media-Art is encouraging such a promoting image.