Sofia boys choir
Encyclopedia
The Sofia Boys Choir is the first boys' choir
founded in Bulgaria
in 1968. The performers, aged 8–15, are selected from different schools in Sofia
. The founder and first conductor
of the choir
from 1968 to 1989 was Lilyana Todorova. Since 1989 Adriana Blagoeva has been the conductor of the choir. She graduated from the National Musical Academy as a choir conductor. Besides of her active conducting practice, Adriana Blagoeva is an associate professor in choral conducting at the National Musical Academy. In 1997 she founded the Youth Formation with the Sofia Boys Choir, consisting of former members of the boys choir. Nowadays the choir is presented by three formations – boys, youth and mixed. Adriana Blagoeva won "The special prize for conductors" at the 1-st International Choral Competition in Bolzano, Italy, in 2000.
The Sofia Boys Choir has very opulent range of musical repertoire: Bulgarian choral music, Orthodox music, Bulgarian folklore music, catholic music
, choral pieces of various musical genres from 14 century till nowadays, musicals
, operas
. Many recordings of the Sofia boys choir are in the musical archive of the Bulgarian National Radio - BNR
and Bulgarian National Television - BNT
.
The choir has published eight audio CDs of its own and participated in another eight with other musicians - external link "Discography".
Since 1993 the Sofia Boys Choir has won a lot of awards at six international choral competitions – a Grand Prix, four First prizes and four Second prizes. The choir has been awarded with prize “Musician of the Year, 2002” by the Bulgarian National Radio
, “The Silver Lyre” /1998/ and “The Golden Lyre” /2008/ of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers Union, “The Golden Plaque” of the Bulgarian Choral Union etc.
Boys' choir
A boys' choir is a choir primarily made up of choirboys who have yet to begin puberty or are in the early to middle stages of puberty and so retain their more highly pitched childhood voice type...
founded in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in 1968. The performers, aged 8–15, are selected from different schools in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. The founder and first conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
from 1968 to 1989 was Lilyana Todorova. Since 1989 Adriana Blagoeva has been the conductor of the choir. She graduated from the National Musical Academy as a choir conductor. Besides of her active conducting practice, Adriana Blagoeva is an associate professor in choral conducting at the National Musical Academy. In 1997 she founded the Youth Formation with the Sofia Boys Choir, consisting of former members of the boys choir. Nowadays the choir is presented by three formations – boys, youth and mixed. Adriana Blagoeva won "The special prize for conductors" at the 1-st International Choral Competition in Bolzano, Italy, in 2000.
The Sofia Boys Choir has very opulent range of musical repertoire: Bulgarian choral music, Orthodox music, Bulgarian folklore music, catholic music
Catholic music
Catholic music may refer to*Contemporary Catholic music*Contemporary Catholic liturgical music*List of Roman Catholic Church musicians*Gregorian chant...
, choral pieces of various musical genres from 14 century till nowadays, musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, operas
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. Many recordings of the Sofia boys choir are in the musical archive of the Bulgarian National Radio - BNR
Bulgarian National Radio
Bulgarian National Radio is Bulgaria's national radio broadcasting organization. It operates two national and seven regional channels, as well as an international service – Radio Bulgaria – which broadcasts in 11 languages.-National:...
and Bulgarian National Television - BNT
Bulgarian National Television
The Bulgarian National Television or BNT is the public broadcaster of Bulgaria. The company was founded in 1959 and began broadcasting on December 26 of the same year. It began broadcasting in color in 1970...
.
The choir has published eight audio CDs of its own and participated in another eight with other musicians - external link "Discography".
Since 1993 the Sofia Boys Choir has won a lot of awards at six international choral competitions – a Grand Prix, four First prizes and four Second prizes. The choir has been awarded with prize “Musician of the Year, 2002” by the Bulgarian National Radio
Bulgarian National Radio
Bulgarian National Radio is Bulgaria's national radio broadcasting organization. It operates two national and seven regional channels, as well as an international service – Radio Bulgaria – which broadcasts in 11 languages.-National:...
, “The Silver Lyre” /1998/ and “The Golden Lyre” /2008/ of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers Union, “The Golden Plaque” of the Bulgarian Choral Union etc.