Mladen Koinarov has a powerful voice that the singer controls perfectly. He chooses his songs not only for the beauty of the melodies but he also wants the lyrics to be meaningful. He is a sculptor of music images that bring delight to the audience and make characters alive at least for those who are able to cope with the Rhodope dialect - a difficult task for most Bulgarians. But even if one does not understand the meaning, they can still enjoy the beauty of Bulgarian folk music.

"It all started in 1963 during the time of the second national festival,” the singer recalls. “At that time I won my first award. Soon after that I had to go into the army for two years. I became part of the Rodopa Ensemble in 1970 and I have been member of the artistic team since then. Although I am retired, I still appear on stage as a soloist. In 2000 I created a school of music in the "Kiril Madzharov" community centre in Smolyan. I look for talented children with good musical memory but desire is also very important. I have seen a number of gifted singers who do not work and do not develop their natural abilities. I teach young singers at the age of 4 or 5. The parents and relatives of the children also help a lot because they help create habits. So far, seven of the children I taught continued to study in the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Laka. My first student has already graduated from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv.”

While gathering his repertoire, Mladen Koinarov searched for songs himself that he later included in the concerts of the Rodopa, and recorded with BNT and BNR. He has several released LPs and CDs. In 1978 he won the second prize in the folk music radio competition „Prix de folklore" in Bratislava. Mladen Koinarov has had hundreds of concerts in Bulgaria and in various countries around the world.

He performs his songs accompanied by famous bagpipers Georgi Musorliev and Peter Yanev and the orchestra of the Rodopa Ensemble. He has also worked with conductors Lazarin Kisyov, Dobrin Panayotov, Ivan Topalov, and Kosta Kolev.

"I am happy that young people continue the traditions. I am happy that my experience gives me the opportunity to help the talented children of the Rhodope in their development,” says folk singer Mladen Koinarov in conclusion.

English: Alexander Markov