“Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them!”– these words by Jesus Christ (Matt 9:14) are the motto of the two-day children’s festival of religious chants and hymns “Hosanna in the highest”.

The festival’s 8^th edition opens on Saturday, May 7 at the St. Martyr Paraskeva – one of the biggest and most beautiful churches in Sofia. It is organized by the Darbi (Talents) Foundation in conjunction with the church’s board of trustees.

“We want to turn the attention of children and of society to Christian values and music is the most direct path to the human heart and mind,” says Mrs. Bistra Ilieva, manager of the foundation and organizer of the festival.

The festival was first held in 2009 and quickly earned the support of a number of state, church and public institutions while the children and their parents eagerly awaited each festival edition. More than 500 children, representatives of dozens of choirs, vocal groups, as well as solo performers are to take part in this year’s event, among them the choir of the St. Yoan of Rila Theological Seminary in Sofia, the “Voices of Orpheus” youth chamber formation, the choir of the National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures “Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher” - Sofia, the “Bodra Smyana” choir, the “Angel voices” choir of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius primary school – Kurdjali, the “Hristianche” children’s vocal group at the Assumption church, again in Kurdjali and many more.

The Bulgarian National Radio Children’s Choir with conductor Venezia Karamanova will give a concert on 7 May in the Grand Hall of the St. Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia. Before the concert a workshop will be organized called “Choirology” – one of the new festival initiatives. Here is more from Mrs. Karamanova:

“This is the third time the Children’s Radio Choir is taking part in the “Hosanna in the highest” festival. In previous years we performed regularly in the St. Martyr Paraskeva church. To perform chants inside a church gives a glorious feeling, it is so different from any concert hall, even the best. To my mind it is really important for choir singers of all generations to perform sacral music in sacral places. In this sense the Darbi foundation which organizes the festival is really important to us all, to the whole of society. The festival is competitive giving all participants an opportunity to perform. As we see in the programme there will be children from kindergartens but also formations that have made a name for themselves in this country and abroad. This year the foundation is putting through some new ideas, for example it is organizing a tour of Sofia’s principal cathedrals. The children will be able to meet representatives of the church, learn more about the frescoes, the icons and the history of the churches. For the first time we shall have a workshop – on 7 May. In the Grand Hall of the St. Kliment Ohridski University, Father Kiril Popov will give a brief talk on the requirements performers of Orthodox music have to comply with. There are church canons for everything and it is vital that we know what they are regarding Orthodox chants. The Children’s Radio Choir will close the workshop with a programme that includes religious works from the choir’s repertoire. We shall also sing some magnificent pieces by Bulgarian composers.”

English version: Milena Daynova