„This year we have two new nominations”, says Konstantin Lazarov. “One of them has been proposed by our general sponsor, a great fan of the folklore in the southern region of Smolyan.  He came up with the idea to nominate children who rank first in various folklore contests during the year. The other new prize is for professional ensembles who are the most active giving concerts. We hope that this is the way to motivate such groups to look for more concert opportunities and in this way for higher revenues. It is no secret that folklore ensembles are either state-funded or have municipal financing and are permanently short of cash. At the concert at Studio 5, some of the awarded performers are invited to appear - Ivo Papazov, Kalinka Valcheva, Zhivko Zhelev (leader of Dobrudza Ensemble and Biseri band), part of the choir of Filip Kutev state ensemble and others. We have invited the family of great Rhodope singer Radka Koushleva, and of celebrated singer Boris Mashalov. The program includes the children from Nusha vocal studio led by Nelly Andreeva. We are determined to attract more children with the activities of the Successors of Folklore Fire Association."

One of the original ideas of the team of the Annual Folklore Awards is an annual commemoration of one of the great manes in Bulgarian folk music. The first edition was dedicated to Boris Mashalov, and this year - to the nightingale from the town of Trun, Gyurgya Pindzhurova on the occasion of her 120th birth anniversary. All winners have received a plaque with her image. A few months ago the organizers gave two special lifetime achievement awards to famous singer Lyubka Rondova and veteran choreographer Radi Radev. At the ceremony on Monday the same award will go to Ivo Papazov-Ibryama, the virtuoso clarinetist who has made the name of Bulgaria more popular across the globe. And here is one more secret revealed by Mr Konstantin Lazarov - the 2015 Voice of the Year Award goes to Kalinka Valcheva.

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio file contains the following songs:

1. Prokleta da e taz moma /Damn that girl/ in the rendition of Kalinka Valcheva

2. Malka moma si sa Bogu moli / Young girl prayed to God performed by Nelly Andreeva and the choir of the Filip Kutev Folk Ensemble

3. Demirdzhiyska Ratchenitsa Dance played by Trakiya Band and soloist Ivo Papazov