The Graovska Mladost Ensemble from Bulgaria’s Pernik brings pride for Bulgarian folklore culture. It has proved its high artistic level not only with the awards and prizes won at prestigious festivals in Europe and North America. It is an attractive center for young people in love with Graovo music and dances. Local tradition is alive and present in the holidays of every village in Pernik region. During rural gatherings and city celebrations, the ensemble is the most desired guest. The hot temperament and rhythm of local folk music, the typical virtuoso songs with their shaky tone, which is part of the "hereditary code" of young performers have amazed the audience in Bulgaria and around the world for the past 60 years.

Ventsislav Andonov, chief artistic director of the ensemble, is a professional bagpipe player. He has graduated from the National School of Folklore Arts - Shiroka Luka, the "Neofit Rilski" University in Blagoevgrad and the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski ". He is also a lecturer at the New Bulgarian University, the Sofia University and holds international seminars dedicated to Balkan folklore.

“I am glad that you have paid attention to our ensemble, which is part of the municipal complex at the Palace of Culture and is celebrating its 60th anniversary," Ventsislav Andonov says. “Our ensemble was created back in 1959 as a dance ensemble with its head being Dimitar Nenchev. Three years later the folk choir with conductor Ivan Tonchev was founded. Graovo folklore is special, as it is part of the Shoppe Folklore Region, but we are different than everything else. Our team includes a professional orchestra: Simeon Dimitrov (kaval), Methodi Metodiev (gadulka), Boyan Andreev (tambura), Valeri Hristov (double bass), Encho Naydenov (drum). I lead the orchestra and play the bagpipe. We have a vocal studio headed by Sylvia Simeonova. The dance group includes a children's group of about 40-50 children as well as a youth group with about 50 dancers. Choreographer is Todor Todorov. The ensemble has won many prestigious awards at four Republican festivals and has also been awarded a "Diploma of Honor" from Portugal. The ensemble has been a guest to every country in Europe. The last festival we took part in was in Switzerland, where we met 19 professional teams, while our formation is amateur with the exception of the orchestra. Our performers are highly motivated and willing to charge up the audience through their performance. Last year we had a month and a half of touring in France and Switzerland, where we proudly presented Graovska Mladost, Pernik and Bulgaria. It is good that is that the municipality has been supporting us throughout the years and I hope the ensemble would continue to develop in the future. In Bulgaria many ensembles stopped their activities and turned into ‘clubs for folk dances’, but that is not the same. In one case people gather for pleasure in their free time, while ensembles are preserving Bulgarian folklore. For me, Graovska Mladost is my youth and my love.

We invite you, together with all the friends, fans, as well as present, future and ex-performers), to celebrate the 60th anniversary on March 15 at 6 pm in the hall of Boyan Danovski Drama Theater in Pernik. You are welcome to our concert in order to enjoy Bulgarian folklore together!”

English: Alexander Markov