Founded in 1968, the Sofia Boys Choir at the Tsar Boris III - 1928 Chitalishte (a cultural community centre) is the first boys’ choir in Bulgaria.
Some Background
Lilyana Todorova was the founder and conductor of the choir up to 1989. Through diligence and love she managed to create a singular choral body, characterized by good musical quality and the young age of the singers.
From 1989 to 2024, the choir was conducted by Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva. With perseverance and creative courage, she worked to establish the ensemble as a regular participant in the concert life of the capital and the country.
The choir’s concert and recording activities became significantly more dynamic, and its artistic qualities were further refined. The Christmas and Easter concerts became a tradition. The choir became a sought-after participant in major national music forums such as the Sofia Music Weeks International Music Festival, the D. Voynikov International Student Choir Festival in Shumen, among others.
Since 2025, the conductor of the choir has been Alexander Mitev.
MISSION
The Sofia Boys’ Choir’s goal is to induct boys into the boundless world of choir music. The ensemble strives to develop their musical talents and transform them into professional concert performers. The diverse repertoire opens up their potential and the time spent with audiences at home and abroad leaves many pleasant memories.
Along with their musical education, the choir stimulates multiple important personal qualities such as:
- discipline and determination;
- personal responsibility and respect of others;
- self-confidence;
- moral virtue;
- teamwork;
- ambition to excel.
To date, over 1,700 boys have been choristers at SBC. In this academy for singing kids become a part of the music world and gain insight into what is beautiful and valuable. Many have continued on to musical careers as instrumentalists, singers, conductors, pedagogues and composers.
If you wish for your child to audition for the Sofia Boys’ Choir, please fill out this form.
Conductor of the Sofia Boys’ Choir
Alexander Mitev
Alexander Mitev was born in 1993 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Lyubomir Pipkov National School of Music and later from New Bulgarian University with a degree in Opera Singing. He completed his studies at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music with two majors: Choral Conducting in the class of Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva and Music Education Pedagogy, graduating as the top student under Prof. Dr. Blagoeva’s supervision. In 2022, he earned a degree in Special and School Psychology from New Bulgarian University. Currently, he is a PhD student at the Faculty of Pedagogy at St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Department of Music.
His artistic career began as a choir singer in the Bodra Smyana Choir and the Sofia Boys Choir, participating in the boys’, youth, and mixed formations. He also performed with the National School of Music Choir and the Grand Course Choir of the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music.
From 2017 to 2022, Mitev served as choirmaster and solfeggio teacher at the Sofia Boys Choir. In 2017, he became a music teacher at 32nd Secondary School for Foreign Languages “St. Kliment Ohridski”, where he founded the Children’s Representative Choir in 2018 and the FORTE DIVAS Vocal Ensemble in 2022. Under his direction, these ensembles have enjoyed extensive concert activities and have won numerous national and international awards. He also leads the Arts and Sports Key Competencies Team at the same school.
Since February 2025, Alexander Mitev has been the conductor of the Sofia Boys Choir at Community Centеr “Tsar Boris III – 1928”.
Alexander Mitev has received numerous personal awards and recognitions throughout the years, including:
- Crystal Lyre Award from the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (2016, Jubilee Edition)
- “Worthy Bulgarian” Award from 24 Chasa newspaper and the Bulgarian National Television (2012)
- Award for Outstanding Achievements at the 9th National Creative Works Competition by the Association of Cambridge Schools and Klett Bulgaria Publishing
- Second Prize at the 9th “Music and Knowledge” Competition – Theory of Musical Elements (2013, NBU)
- Certificate of Contribution for promoting Russian music in Bulgaria (2010)
- Audience Award at the “Best Practices in Focus” competition for outstanding pedagogical practices (2023)
- Certificate of Contribution to the cultural life of 32nd Secondary School for Foreign Languages “St. Kliment Ohridski” (2024)
Among his most notable achievements is the Audience Award at the 7th National Festival of Christmas and New Year Songs in Haskovo, won with his original musical composition “Christmas Has Come”.
Alexander Mitev actively participates in conferences, seminars, and projects. He writes articles on choral art and pedagogical issues, published in reputable scientific journals. In 2024, he presented a paper at the Academic Forum on Integral Music Theory (11/2024), titled Musica in modi di festa – Bulgarian Composer Visions at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music.
His research interests are focused on the development of children’s choirs in Bulgaria from the National Revival period to the present day, as well as on creating modern methods for working with choir singers. He has served multiple times as a jury member at national and international competitions.
Currently, Alexander Mitev is the only Bulgarian member of the International Society for Music Education (I.S.M.E.). Between 2021 and 2023, he was a member of the Board of Trustees at Chitalishte “Tsar Boris III – 1928”, nominated by Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva.
