In 2011, the Bulgarian Choral Union celebrated 85 years since its creation, an event that was marked by dozens of concerts across the country and abroad. Despite the economic difficulties, a number of distinguished Bulgarian choirs took part in international competitions, festivals, and tours last year, presenting the high craftsmanship of Bulgarian choral art.
In mid-July 2011, the Academic Folk Choir at the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv won the award in the category Folklore at the World Choral Championship in the Austrian city of Graz. The numerous awards earned at international competitions in Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria indicate the group’s high artistic level. More about the latest prize of the Academic Folk Choir by its conductor Dr. Kostadin Buradzhiev. "This is the Grand Prix of champions. This contest involves only groups that have been world champions before. We became such champions in 2008 among participants from around the world, for the first time we met choirs from Brazil and Indonesia. European choirs were from Latvia, Poland, Russia and others. For us, it was extremely tough - each choir had to demonstrate its skills within 30 minutes only. I am happy that my girls sang in a very inspired manner and the jury applauded them. In terms of repertoire, recent years have convinced me that composers such as Ivan Spassov, Stefan Mutafchiev and Krassimir Kyurkchiiski have a magnetic influence on the international jury. Its members are captured by the original Bulgarian folk music refracted through the mind of our composers. "

Three Bulgarian choirs participated in the International Festival of Amateur Choirs and Orchestras in Croatia last year. It was held in October in the town of Porec which is located on the Istrian peninsula on the Adriatic coast. In this fabulously beautiful place, the Dobri Hristov Female Chamber Choir from Pernik, the Burgas-based Children's Choir and Polyphony Chamber Choir from Sofia met with groups from Lithuania, Italy, Cyprus, Germany, Finland ... Each was represented by a 40-minute concert program. The performances of the Bulgarian choristers charmed the guests at the festival.
The Polyphony Chamber Choir has been earning huge acclaim at prestigious international forums since 1968 to this day. Its undoubted success at the radio choir competition Let the Peoples Sing of the BBC continued with six first prizes from the Segghizzi Choral Competition in Gorizia in Italy, Ireland and other international competitions. Now the ladies of Polyphony choir have Lyudmila Gerova as their leader – she is a talented singer and conductor who developed the traditions of the group’s founder Ivelin Dimitrov. 

The Bulgarian participation at this year's Spring Choral Festival in Antalya, Turkey, was very strong and successful. Out of 14 choirs from Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Philippines and the host country, half of the groups were Bulgarian. All competed in four categories and our singers managed to gain four prizes and three special diplomas. In the Mixed Choirs category , the Plovdiv-based Angel Bukureshtliev Singing Society grabbed the third prize, the Dobrudja Sounds choir from Dobrich climbed to the second place. In one-voice formations, Bulgarians won two awards – the Teachers’ Choir from Dobrich finished third and the Harp choir from Sofia won the first prize.
The singers of Harp started their artistic career in 1973 with international awards from BBC-London, Germany, France ... An ooutstanding contribution to the excellence of all our groups have their conductors who have proved their mmagnificent professional qualities. Special diplomas were awarded also to the Rodna Pesen choir from Targoviste, the Balkan Sounds choir from Berkovitsa and the Pim-Pam children's vocal group from Sofia.

In April 2011, the Dobri Chintulov Mixed Choir from Sliven conducted by Methodi Grigorov participated in one of the most prestigious international festivals of sacred music in the ancient Italian town of Loreto. Bulgarian choir singers performed on stage with famous groups from several European cities, the Philippines and Taiwan. Once again, they enraptured the audience with a perfection that can seldom be achieved by an amateur choir. Founded in 1893, this group received the recognition of the festival president Don Lamberto Pigini. And the thank you letter of the organizers read as follows: "Dear friends, all members of the artistic committee of the 51st International Festival of Sacred Music in Loreto, Italy, express their great appreciation of your choir which showed remarkable artistic ability and singing craftsmanship ... Bulgaria has a choir that is the pride of the nation”.
At the end of today’s show, we offer you two orthodox chants performed by the Dobri Chintulov Mixed Choir from Sliven – these are The Only-begotten Son of Bulgarian composer Dobri Hristov, and the Lord’s Prayer of Russian composer Nikolai Kedroff.