Gancho Gavazov
Gancho Gavazov was born in the town of Karlovo. He studied Performing Arts with the rebec at the Shiroka Laka National School for Folklore Arts, and received his degree in Conducting of Folk Ensembles at the Academy of Music, Dance and the Fina Arts in Plovdiv.
Since 2009 he has been working at the school in Shiroka Laka where he conducts the folk choir and the vocal chamber music ensembles of the school and where, after 2011 he teaches the fiddle/rebec.
Gancho Gavazov holds the first and second prize for the performing arts from the National Folklore Competition "Yanko Petrov"
Marina Stefanova
Marina Stefanova, is from Targovishte. ShemajoredinFolkSinging and Teaching at the MusicandArtsAcademyinPlovdiv and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Communications and Public Relations from the Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since the far away 1994.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
A.: It’s from Northern Bulgaria.
Simona Stanoeva
Simona Stanoeva is from Kiustendil, where she studied in the music class of the Neofit Rilski High School. She is currently studying music at the Sofia University.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 7 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
A.: I wear a dress from the Rodope region.
Q.: Which is your favorite folk song?
A.: Lale li si, Ziumbul li si (Are You a Tulip or a Hyacinth).
Thea Dimitrova
Thea Dimitrova, from Sofia, has graduated from the National School of Music in Shiroka Laka, where she studied folk singing.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 11 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
A.: From Thrace.
Q.: Which is your favorite folk song?
A.: Sitting is Manolcho.
Nina Kostova
Nina Kostova is from Varshetz and has studied folk singing at the National School of the Arts in Pleven. She later graduated in Musical Pedagogy and Folk Singing from the Academy of Music, Dance and the Fine Arts in Plovdiv with the class of Prof. Svetla Stanilova.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 5 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
A.: From the Pirin folklore region.
Valentina Dobreva
Valentina Dobreva is from Targovishte. She is a graduate of the National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia, where she majored in Choir Conducting and Ethnomusicology. She is currently doing her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology at the NAM.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: I’ve been doing music since I was six. I grew up in the family of folk musicians. I started off with piano and music theory lessons and, in secondary education, had an interest in folk music and song.
Lydia Stefanova
Lydia Stefanova is from the town of Belovo near Pazardjik and has graduated from the music class at the "Georgi Bregov" High School in Pazardjik. She has a B.A. in Musical Pedagogy and a Master’s Degree in Conducting Folklore Ensembles Groups from The Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since childhood. I was 5 years old when I started.
Magdalena Stoyanova
Magdalena Stoyanova is from the village of Gabrene, near Petrich in the Blagoevgrad Region. She graduated in singing from the National School of Folk Music in Shiroka Laka. ShemajoredinFolkSinging at the MusicandArtsAcademyinPlovdivand is scheduled to obtain her Master’s Degree in MusicalPedagogythis year.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: I’ve been singing since I was 6 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Yulia Gatderova
Yulia Gatderova, from the town of Yakoruda, graduated in singing at the National School of Music in Shiroka Laka. She holds a B.A. in Musical Pedagogy and a Master’s Degree in Artistic Management from the Music and Arts Academy in Plovdiv. She subsequently specialized and received a M.A. Degree in Musical Management from the National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 6 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Victoria Todorova
Victoria Todorova is from Sofia. She studied folk singing in the Secondary School National Revival Leaders in Sofia and did her university training in Musical Pedagogy at the Neofit Rilski Southwestern University in Blagoevgrad. She also has a degree in International Economic Relations from the Higher International Business School in Botevgrad.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since early childhood.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Anna Vuchkova
Anna Vuchkova is from Kiustendil. She learned the piano in the music class of the Daskal Dimitri Secondary School in Kiustendil. She holds a M.A. in Folk Ensembles Conducting from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv and a professional qualification in Teaching and Performing of Folk Singing.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: For 35 years now.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Maria Krasteva
Maria Krasteva is from Bratzigovo and studied English at the Berthold Brecht Language School in Pazardjik and Sociology at the University for National and World Economy. She mastered singing at a folklore ensemble at the Youth Center in Bratzigovo. She has recorded for the Bulgarian National Radio and won prizes at a number of folklore competitions.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 7 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Violeta Kostadinova
Violeta Kostadinova from Sofia has studied English and Hebrew at the Dimcho Debelyanov High School in Sofia. She is currently a student at the Sofia University, majoring in Music.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since early childhood.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Maria Todorinova
Maria Todorinova from Sofia studied folk singing at the Lubomir Pipkov Secondary School of Music in Pleven and Business Administration at the Higher International Business University in Botevgrad.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 4 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
A.: From the region of Koprivshtitza.
Antonia Keteneva
Antonia Keteneva is from the village of Svirachi, near Ivailovgrad. She graduated in singing from the National School of Folk Music in Shiroka Laka. Presently, she is studying FolkSinging at the Music, Dance and FineArtsAcademyinPlovdiv.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: I’ve been singing since the age of 4, but in an organized way – since I was in the 8th grade when I was accepted to the National School of Folk Music in Shiroka Laka.
Tatyana Velikova-Marinova
Tatyana Velikova-Marinova from Sofia graduated at the Academy of Music,Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv with a degreein Folk Ensembles Conducting and a professional qualification in Teaching and Performing of Folk Singing.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was very young. I’ve been doing music intensively and systematically since the 6th grade.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
Ilina Ivanova
Ilina Ivanova from Yambol graduated in folk singing at the National School of Music in Shiroka Laka. She is currently studying Ecology and Environmental Protection at the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: I sang my first song when I was 3 years old. I’ve been singing professionally since the 8th grade, when I was admitted to the National School of Music in Shiroka Laka.
Velichka Spassova
Velichka Spassova is from Blagoevgrad. She studied at the Professional School of Economics’ class for administrators/documentarists in Blagoevgrad. At the Neofit Rilski Southwestern University she majored in Social Work. Velitchka has a rich artistic career and has been a performer with the Kiustendil Ensemble, Ensemble Struma, as well as Ensemble Pirin, where she continues to sing.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
A.: From Thrace.
Angelica Tzvetanova
Angelica Tzvetanova is from Targovishte.She studied in the musical and folk singing class of the Prof.Nikola Marinov High School. She is currently a student at the Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy, majoring in Composition.
Q.: How long have you been involved with music?
A.: Since I was 5 years old.
Q.: From which geographical area is the costume you wear on stage?
