Children's choir of the Bulgarian National Radio earns prestigious international award

published on 11/25/20 4:35 PM

Children's Choir of BNR conducted by Venetsia Karamanova

Photo: BNR

The Children's Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio has won the first prize at the 8th Jean Sibelius International Choir Contest. The Bulgarian radio choir became the undisputed winner in the category "Children's choirs up to 16 years of age."

The festival, dedicated to the Finnish composer Jan Sibelius, is held every year in the Finnish town of Turku with the participation of musicians from around the world. This year's edition was held virtually.

The children's radio choir won the award with its inspired performance of Vladimir Rubin's Po Bukvari, Alexander Tanev's Yove, Malay Mome, Debussy's Clair de Lune in arrangement of Todor Popov and Freddie Mercury's Bohemian Rhapsody with recordings from the group's spring concert in 2019 under the direction of the group's chief conductor Venetsia Karamanova.

For the BNR, maestra Venetsia Karamanova commented: “I am very happy with the success of the Children's Radio Choir on the international stage. This is a token of regocnition for the entire Bulgarian choral culture."

This year the BNR Children's Choir celebrates 60 years since its establishment.